HEADLINE

By Paulo Loreto Lim After two Negros Occidental Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) officials were recently brought up on administrative charges before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas, the DENR-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) recently affirmed their commitment to enforcing environmental law. After PENRO Edgardo Rostata, along with Community Environment and Natural …

Bermudo: Duterte’s word will affirm postponement By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Bacolod City-Liga ng mga Barangay (Liga) President and Barangay Tangub Captain Noli Villarosa yesterday said postponement of the upcoming May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections is still likely. Villarosa, while attending a meeting of Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) members from across the country …

By Paulo Loreto Lim With labor organizations pressing the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte on his campaign promise to end contractualization, the president earlier this week admitted to difficulties in ending the practice, citing both the limited number of businesses operating in the country and recognizing the rights of business owners. Duterte said the government …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga  The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has opened a fact-finding mission into the P8 million budget provided by the Bacolod City government for the Bacolod City Government Employees Union (BCGEU) to hold their year-end activity last December. The issue previously drew criticism from local anti-graft and corruption group watchdog Task Force …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga  In contrast to earlier statements made by Sipalay City Tourism Officer Riha Cabajosa, who said they are expecting an upsurge in tourists amid the ongoing pollution situation at resort destination Boracay, Provincial Tourism Office head Christine Mansinares refuted the claims noting differences between the two locales. “Boracay is known for …

By Paulo Loreto Lim According to Department of Agriculture Regional Executive Director Remelyn Recoter, all provinces of the Western Visayas are at 100 percent rice sufficiency, except for Negros Occidental and Aklan, which are slightly behind at 90 percent. She noted, the region produced 2.2 million metric tons of the crop last year, which comprises …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga  The Negros Occidental Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is calling for witnesses of the Bolbet Leyte shooting, allegedly committed by members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) in Barangay Laga-an, Calatrava earlier this month. Local CHR head Romeo Baldevarona said they are currently looking into the shooting of …

By Paulo Loreto Lim Following the recent arrests of Lebanese-national Nader Essam Assaf and his Syrian wife, Mona Hassoun, the former employers of slain overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Joanna Daniela Demafelis and the prime suspects in her alleged murder, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the victim’s recruiters. Demafelis’ …

GAWA: Coca-Cola cannot use TRAIN Law as excuse for layoffs By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga   Employees of the Bacolod City Coca-Cola plant plan to protest the impending layoffs earlier announced by Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines. The company attributed the decision to the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, which will …