HEADLINE

By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental has been placed under a state of calamity after grappling with agricultural damage brought by Severe Tropical Storm “Crising” and a widespread destructive outbreak of the red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) threatening the sugar industry. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) yesterday approved the declaration through a resolution, unanimously adopted on the …

By CESAR JOLITO III Another wave of civilian killings has rocked Negros Island as the New People’s Army (NPA) has openly claimed responsibility for the deaths of two individuals accused of being military informants. In a recent statement, the NPA’s Roselyn Jean Pelle Command admitted to the killing of 58-year-old Jonesly Vallente, Sr. at Barangay …

By CESAR JOLITO III The combined effects of the southwest monsoon or habagat and Severe Tropical Storm “Crising” have left P44.5 million worth of agricultural losses and infrastructure damage in the Negros Island Region (NIR), data from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) showed. Negros Occidental bore the brunt, with P17.2 million worth of …

By CESAR JOLITO III Families residing along creeks and riverbanks in Bacolod City are set to be relocated to mitigate flooding risks following recent heavy rains that inundated several barangays. Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya announced that the Bacolod Housing Authority (BHA) has been tasked with identifying suitable relocation sites for residents in Barangay Banago near Banago …

By CESAR JOLITO III Six individuals died in inclement weather-related incidents amid the onslaught of the southwest monsoon or habagat enhanced by Severe Tropical Storm “Crising” after heavy rains inundated low-lying communities, swelled rivers and made crossings treacherous in Negros Occidental. Irene Bel Ploteña, chief of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said four …

By CESAR JOLITO III Torrential rains brought about by the southwest monsoon or habagat enhanced by Severe Tropical Storm “Crising” have left the agriculture and aquaculture sectors in Negros Occidental grappling with losses amounting to over P2.7 million, data from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) showed. About 9.85 hectares of high-value crops (HVC) …

By CESAR JOLITO III Kabankalan City Mayor Benjie Miranda said the city government is preparing to declare a state of calamity as severe flooding continues to displace residents and inundate farmlands following heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon enhanced by Tropical Depression “Crising.” “Declaring a state of calamity will allow us to mobilize resources and …

By CESAR JOLITO III Heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon triggered by Tropical Depression “Crising” caused widespread flooding in nine localities in Negros Occidental yesterday. Irene Belle Ploteña, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chief, said affected local government units (LGUs), such as the cities of Kabankalan and Himamaylan, as well as the …

By CESAR JOLITO III The local government of Moises Padilla is seeking the intervention of Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson to resolve a pressing land ownership issue involving the Central Philippines State University (CPSU) Moises Padilla Campus. A key item on the agenda was the expiration of a usufruct agreement involving the two-hectare property …

By CESAR JOLITO III Despite the widespread damage caused by the red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) on sugarcane fields, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said there is no immediate plan to declare a state of emergency or calamity in the province. Lacson believes that such a declaration would place a burden on local government units (LGUs). …