By JEN BAYLON Negros Occidental’s San Carlos City was placed under a state of calamity after incurring P17 million in agricultural damage due to the El Niño phenomenon. San Carlos Mayor Rene Gustilo, who also serves as the chairman of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), in a resolution, recommended the declaration of a …
HEADLINE
NEPC franchise bill passes Senate scrutiny
House Bill 9805, which aims to grant Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC) a franchise to establish, operate and maintain a distribution system of electric power in Central Negros, passed Senate deliberation on Wednesday, May 8. Senator Grace Poe, who sponsored the bill, underscored the significant impact of the proposed franchise, emphasizing the NEPC’s projected P2.1 billion initial …
‘Looming crisis;’ Bacolod SP urges gov’t to address PUVMP’s impact on transport sector
By JEN BAYLON The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) passed a resolution urging the Senate and House of Representatives to address the “brewing crisis” due to the implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP). In its Resolution No. 371 submitted to the Senate on Tuesday, May 7, the SP said the government needs to promptly address and …
Low rice output? OPA: El Niño likely to affect rice production in Negros Occidental
By JEN BAYLON The Negros Occidental Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) said the drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon will likely affect rice production in the province. OPA officer-in-charge Dr. Dina Genzola said they are still computing the exact extent of the crop losses due to drought. Genzola remains hopeful that irrigated areas can …
Negative results; 3 persons of interest in cop’s murder negative for gunpowder residue
By JEN BAYLON The three persons of interest in the murder of a police officer in Negros Occidental’s Sagay City have been tested negative in the paraffin tests, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) said yesterday. NOCPPO spokesperson, Police Captain Judesses Catalogo said Staff Sergeant Lernie Alacha’s live-in partner and two children, including a seven-year-old boy who reportedly shot …
‘Unconstitutional;’ Dumaguete diocese: NIR bill should be rejected for being ill-conceived
By JEN BAYLON The Diocese of Dumaguete said the Negros Island Region (NIR) bill is unconstitutional, as they renewed their appeal to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. not to sign the bill into law. In their second letter to Marcos dated April 29, the diocese, headed by Dumaguete Bishop Julito Cortes, urged the President to review …
Secure the future; Lacson: Stakeholders must work together to achieve power stability
By JEN BAYLON Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson highlighted the importance of a collaborative approach in developing a comprehensive Energy Development Roadmap for the province towards energy security. During the Provincial Stakeholders’ Consultative Power Summit at the Sanctuario de La Salle in Bacolod City yesterday, Lacson emphasized the need for all stakeholders to work together …
‘Enough funds,’ State of calamity due to drought not declared in Cauayan town
By JEN BAYLON A state of calamity was not declared in Negros Occidental’s Cauayan town despite the locality suffering agricultural damage worth P66.1 million due to drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon. Cauayan Mayor John Rey Tabujara said he did not consider placing the town under a state of calamity because the local government unit …
Jeepney crackdown? LTFRB-6 awaits guidelines vs. unconsolidated traditional PUJs
By JEN BAYLON The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Western Visayas (LTFRB-6) has no immediate plans to strictly enforce a crackdown against unconsolidated traditional public utility jeepneys (PUJs), as they await apprehension guidelines from the central office. LTFRB-6 officer-in-charge Atty. Salvador Altura said for now they will not yet strictly apprehend unconsolidated PUJs after …
Livestock deaths, El Niño costs P10-M livestock losses in Negros Occidental
By JEN BAYLON The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) said livestock losses due to the ongoing drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon in the province have reached P10 million. The latest PDMPD data as of April 26, showed the drought has incurred P10,080,100 in damages, and affected a total of 11,556 …