HEADLINE

By Paulo Loreto Lim After earlier listing his accomplishments since assuming the position of Iloilo City mayor three months ago, following an extended period of time spent abroad by his predecessor, dismissed Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, Mayor Jose Espinosa III recently called on the city government to focus on innovation in 2018. “Innovations …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Moises Padilla Vice Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo, who was imprisoned, alongside her husband Felix Mathias Yulo, on charges of illegal possession of explosives, was released from the Moises Padilla Police Station detention center last Saturday; however, she expressed her bewilderment after finding out the order was issued on December 29, 2017. …

Generation charge increase, collection of P232 million also expected By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Ceneco) General Manager Sulpicio Lagarde recently affirmed, due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, increases to power rates are “imminent.” In a report by TV Patrol-Negros, Lagarde said consumer power bills could …

The Sandiganbayan Seventh Division recently suspended Iloilo Lone District Rep. Jerry Treñas for 90 days amid graft charges in relation to a P500,000 donation from Senator Loren Legarda, intended for the construction of the Iloilo Press Club building during his tenure as Iloilo City mayor. According to the Sandiganbayan, the then-mayor gave “unwarranted benefits, advantage …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga The Court of Appeals denied a motion for reconsideration filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in response to the former earlier junking the grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty case against Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia regarding a P50 million purchase of furniture and fixtures for the Bacolod …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Stephen Paduano denied any politics were involved in the Christmas and New Year gathering hosted by his party-list at the Bacolod Pavillon Resort Hotel over the weekend, which extended invitations to top barangay officials across Negros Occidental, along with current and former local elected officials. Paduano …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga The Provincial Health Office (PHO) claimed 2017 saw a significant drop in dengue cases from 2016, noting the province reported 4,284 cases in 2017, compared to 6,295 in 2016. The PHO-Negros Occidental Health Surveillance Office, however, noted there were 41 dengue-related deaths throughout the province, exclusive of Bacolod City. Sagay …

Sancho: TRAIN Law may end sugar planting By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Local labor advocate Wennie Sancho said he is seeking higher wages for workers due to expected increases on the price of oil products and with transport groups demanding increases to fares following the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) …

By Paulo Loreto Lim While speaking at the La Castellana centennial celebrations, which began on December 14 and closed yesterday, January 5, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. called on rebels to surrender, promising livelihood assistance in exchange. “I would like to appeal to those who are still there, [in] the mountains, to return to …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) yesterday affirmed there were no casualties in the province as a result of Tropical Depression Agaton, with PDRRMO head Zeaphard Caelian specifying the motorcycle driver who was killed after accidentally falling into the Himogaan River and drowning was not …