By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Slain Guihulngan City police chief, Police Superintendent Arnel Arpon, who was killed during a New People’s Army (NPA) ambush last month, will receive full police honors from the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) when he is buried this weekend. In an interview yesterday, NOPPO acting director, Police Senior Superintendent …
HEADLINE
Local officials optimistic despite NIR exclusion from budget Coscolluela: NIR legislators need to ‘create noise’
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Local elected officials expressed optimism, despite the exclusion of the Negros Island Region (NIR) from the 2018 proposed national budget. Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the region can survive, unless President Rodrigo Duterte decides to proceed with the pending executive order seeking the dissolution of the region. …
NIR not in 2018 national budget –Hinlo
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga The Negros Island Region (NIR) was again excluded by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in the proposed 2018 national budget, according to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Public Safety Jesus Hinlo, Jr., yesterday. With an impending order reassigning Hinlo as a top Landbank …
State of the District Address: 300 school buildings, another flyover coming
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya delivered a State of the District Address (SODA) at the Bacolod Pavillon yesterday afternoon, where he discussed legislation he authored, along with approved and implemented projects. According to the congressman, he authored 32 bills and co-authored 60 measures. He emphasized infrastructure projects implemented, …
Gasataya: Negros Bloc to push for 2018 NIR budget
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Bacolod Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya said the Negros Bloc vowed to push for a 2018 budget for the Negros Island Region (NIR). Currently, the congressman said he is unaware if NIR is included in the proposed budget, but assured the issue would be taken up in congressional hearings. According …
Duterte visits Guihulngan City, offers posthumous award for slain police officers
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga President Rodrigo Duterte was in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental yesterday to pay tribute to the six police officers killed in last week’s New People’s Army (NPA) ambush and presented them with posthumous awards. During a short press conference, the president said he is saddened by the loss and noted he …
Governor endorses public smoking ban
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. recently expressed his support for the executive order signed by President Rodrigo Duterte banning smoking in public places. Marañon suggested smokers quit the habit, referring to it as a “vice.” “You are just burning your money,” he stressed. “You are shortening your life.” He …
Governor supports cutting peace talks, considers NPA ‘backstabbers’
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. slammed the New People’s Army (NPA) yesterday and endorsed President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to cancel peace talks with the rebels. “It’s not only Guihulngan City, they have also conducted ambushes in several other places,” Marañon said, referring to the deadly attack that occurred last …
City officials call SONA ‘comprehensive’
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) yesterday drew generally positive responses from city officials; however, there were different interpretations to his tone. Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia called the speech a “typical President Duterte show,” describing it as “clear, forceful, authoritative, witty, comprehensive, and more.” The response …
Mixed anticipation over today’s SONA Local protests expected
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Militant groups in Bacolod City are planning rallies today as President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his second State of the Nation Address (SONA). Former Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares, who spoke at a Martial Law forum at Negros Occidental High School (NOHS) yesterday, said groups will be holding their own SONA …