HEADLINE

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga More than 400 residents in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town and Escalante City were evacuated as the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) performed airstrikes against remnants of the dismantled New People’s Army (NPA) on Thursday night, February 22. Lt. Colonel Jjay Javines, 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson, said they called for the Philippine …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga The number of suspected New People’s Army (NPA) insurgents killed in a series of encounters in northern Negros has climbed to three. Lt. Colonel Arnel Calaogan, the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) commander, said they have yet to identify the three fatalities — two males and a young woman …

By Mae Singuay The House of Representatives approved House Bill (HB) 9805, which grants a franchise to Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC), on the third and final reading yesterday. With 225 votes in favor, nine against and one abstention, the 19th Congress’ approval solidifies NEPC’s authority to operate and improve electricity distribution in Central Negros Electric Cooperative’s (Ceneco) franchise areas. …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga The passage of Senate Bill 2534, which proposed a P100 daily minimum wage increase for private sector workers, on the third and final reading in the Senate has received mixed responses from local labor and business groups. In a radio interview, Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) Executive Director Frank …

  By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga The Cauayan municipal government has begun consolidating reports on crop damage due to a dry spell brought by the El Niño phenomenon, as they are hesitant on declaring a “state of calamity” in the locality. Cauayan Mayor John Rey Tabujara said they want to find out first from the Municipal …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga The number of dengue cases in Negros Occidental this year dropped by 44.44 percent, the latest data from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) revealed yesterday. The PHO recorded 110 dengue cases as of February 10, lower than 198 cases logged during the same period last year. La Carlota City has …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Negros Occidental’s Cauayan town is being considered to be placed under a “state of calamity” amid the dry spell caused by the El Niño phenomenon. In a phone patch interview with the media yesterday, Cauayan Mayor John Rey Tabujara said 127 farmers from 14 villages in the town have been …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga The Philippine Army will maintain its presence in Negros Occidental even as the New People’s Army (NPA) guerrilla fronts have been dismantled, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson confirmed. Lacson made the statement after reports surfaced that the Army would shift some of their battalions from Negros to dismantle the two weakened NPA …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga The damage to crops caused by the El Niño phenomenon in Negros Occidental has now climbed to P14.4 million, based on the latest data provided by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday. Lacson said a total of 369.11 hectares of rice fields and 383 farmers in 43 villages …

  By Mae Singuay The House of Representatives approved on second reading House Bill (HB) 9310, which seeks to grant a congressional franchise to Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC) during the 19th Congress regular session yesterday. During the debate in the plenary, committee on legislative franchises chair, Parañaque City Representative Gus Tambunting emphasized that the Central Negros …