HEADLINE

By JEN BAYLON The Commission on Elections in Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) is 80 percent ready for the May 12 midterm elections, stating that they are “on time” in their preparations. Comelec-NIR Regional Director Lionel Marco Castillano said they are still finalizing the contingency plans for the elections, which will include security preparations as well …

By JEN BAYLON Water sources in nine barangays in Negros Occidental’s Bago City are no longer safe for drinking after they were contaminated by ashfall from Kanlaon Volcano’s minor eruption over the weekend. Dr. Merijene Ortizo, head of the Bago City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), said volcanic ashfall has affected Barangays Mailum, …

By JEN BAYLON The Sandiganbayan has issued an arrest warrant against former Valladolid Mayor Romel Patalita Yogore, who has been convicted of graft. Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office director Police Colonel Rainerio de Chavez said, despite their efforts to serve the warrant, they were unable to locate Yogore at his residence at Barangay Poblacion in …

The 303rd Infantry Battalion (303IB) of the Philippine Army is formulating a contingency plan to utilize soldiers in case Kanlaon Volcano erupts during the May 12 midterm elections. Brigadier General Ted Dumosmog, 303IB commanding general, said on Thursday, February 13, that 1,045 303IB soldiers and Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) officers will be mobilized to secure the midterm …

BY JEN BAYLON Candidates vying for local positions in Negros Occidental for the May 12 midterm elections convened for a peace covenant signing yesterday, reinforcing their commitment to clean and peaceful elections. The signing was held at the Kanlaon Hall of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) headquarters. It was led by NOCPPO director, Colonel …

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson advised residents to be ready for the “culminating activity” of Kanlaon Volcano, while he hopes that it will not be disastrous. This comes after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that a continuous rise of magma at Kanlaon has moved to less than five kilometers near the …

By JEN BAYLON There may be an “overpressurization” at Kanlaon Volcano after a continuous rise of magma towards the volcano’s crater was observed, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. The magma accumulation at Kanlaon is now five kilometers near the crater, Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said based on their monitoring. Bacolcol said sulfur emissions went down …

By JEN BAYLON The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will initiate “Operation Baklas,” which aims to remove campaign posters illegally displayed in public places, as the campaign period for national candidates and party-lists in the midterm elections starts today. Ian Lee Ananoria, Negros Occidental provincial election supervisor, said the Comelec head office has instructed all its field offices nationwide to …

By JEN BAYLON Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the Negros Island Region (NIR) will only be “fully operational” if it has its own budget. “We will see the full implementation of the NIR in 2026 because they are now preparing its budget inclusion in next year’s General Appropriations Act [GAA],” Lacson said. According …

By JEN BAYLON A minor explosive eruption at Kanlaon Volcano on Thursday, February 6, prompted concerns over potential lahar flows due to rainy conditions. Mari-Andylene Quintia, resident volcanologist of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology’s (Phivolcs) Kanlaon Volcano Observatory, confirmed that muddy stream flows from the volcano were recorded in two rivers following the …