HEADLINE

By JEN BAYLON The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is intensifying efforts to contain the infestation of red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) that has been reported in six sugarcane-producing local government units in northern Negros Occidental. RSSI threatens to reduce sugar content by nearly 50 percent, potentially impacting the sugar industry and farmers’ livelihoods in the …

By JEN BAYLON Two children died in a fire that razed their house at Purok Lison in Bacolod City’s Barangay 1 early yesterday morning. Siblings eight-year-old Gabry Jhon Gutierrez and six-year-old Audrey Shantel Gutierrez died in the blaze, while their grandfather, 63-year-old Edwardo Gutierrez, sustained injuries, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Bacolod said. The children, who were …

By JEN BAYLON Sugar production in the Philippines for the current crop year is projected to finish at 1.837 million metric tons (MMT), nearly five percent higher than the initial estimate of 1.782 MMT, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said. As of now, sugar production has reached 1.815 MMT, according to SRA Administrator Pablo Luis …

By JEN BAYLON The additional P203 million worth of financial assistance in response to Kanlaon Volcano’s continuing unrest on Negros Island will go directly to the affected local government units (LGUs), the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said. OCD Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said Negros Occidental’s La Carlota City will receive the largest share from the …

By JEN BAYLON The ban on entering Kanlaon Volcano’s six-kilometer extended danger zone has been lifted, but with tightened restrictions, despite renewed volcanic activity in the past days. “The suspension of entry to the six-kilometer extended danger zone from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to carry out farming and other essential activities is hereby lifted,” the …

By JEN BAYLON The Negros Occidental provincial government is advancing its efforts to implement the P20 per kilo rice program, now that the national government is readying its rollout after the May 12 midterm elections. Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said P7 million will be released by the provincial government to purchase approximately 5,800 sacks of …

By JEN BAYLON The May 12 midterm elections in the Negros Island Region (NIR) saw an impressive voter turnout, underscoring the active participation of the electorate in the democratic process. According to Jossil Macute, assistant regional director of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in NIR, the voter turnout was notably high across the provinces. The …

By JEN BAYLON The midterm elections in Negros Occidental on Monday, May 12, have concluded with a mix of closely contested races and unopposed victories, according to the partial and unofficial vote tallies released by the Commission on Elections as of yesterday. In Binalbagan town, Manuel Aranda, running as an independent candidate, won the mayoralty …

By JEN BAYLON Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, running as an independent candidate for the city’s lone congressional district, has once again upset former Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia of the Nacionalista Party in the May 12 midterm elections. As of 12:12 a.m., five hours after voting ended at 7:00 p.m. and the counting started, …

By JEN BAYLON The Commission on Elections in the Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) is 100 percent ready as the Negrenses will cast their votes in the highly anticipated midterm elections today. Comelec-NIR Assistant Regional Director Jossil Macute said all automated counting machines (ACMs) and ballots, including security preparations, are already in place. “We are only …