HEADLINE

The National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP) retracts its statement welcoming the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) and Department of Agriculture’s declaration that there will be no sugar importation until the end of harvest next year. NFSP president Enrique Rojas said SRA had not been totally candid in its statement about the importation. “Like all sugarcane farmers, …

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) decried the presumption of the Sugar Council and the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (Nacusip) that their recent pronouncement of no sugar importation until the next harvest was intended to curb the drop in mill gate prices. SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said the claims from …

The declaration of no more sugar importation until the next harvest failed to arrest the drop in mill gate sugar prices, the Sugar Council and the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry (Nacusip) said. “If the ‘no further importation’ pronouncement aims to arrest the drop in mill gate sugar prices over the past weeks, …

By JEN BAYLON The Commission on Elections in Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) has not yet identified any election hotspots in Negros Occidental ahead of the May 2025 national and local elections. Comelec-NIR Director Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano said discussions regarding identifying potential election hotspots in the province will take place during the meeting of city and municipal …

A contingency plan is being prepared by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Island Region (NIR) for the 2025 midterm elections in case of Kanlaon Volcano’s eruption. Comelec-NIR director, Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano said municipal and city election officers are directed to draft contingency plans for a possible eruption, and identify alternative voting centers. Castillano said Comelec-NIR …

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is urged to fast track the inspection of sugar mill equipment, after “very doubtful” produce was released by the processing plants. Manuel Lamata, president of the United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines (Unifed), said they demand the SRA to conduct proper calibration of sugar milling equipment. “We have had …

By JEN BAYLON As Kanlaon Volcano’s heightened unrest — marked by persistent ash emissions and elevated sulfur dioxide levels — continues, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said there is no reason to raise the alert level yet. Alert Level 2 has been maintained over Kanlaon, signifying moderate volcanic unrest. Phivolcs Director Teresito …

There were no irregularities in the procurement process of the projects undertaken by the Silay City government amounting to P1.4 billion, Mayor Joedith Gallego said during the congressional inquiry by the House Committee on Public Accounts yesterday. Gallego and several city government officials, as well as several representatives from various sectors, attended the hearing at …

Kanlaon Volcano had 28 “ashing” events, with plumes reaching heights of up to 800 meters above the summit over the weekend, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported yesterday. “Emission episodes lasted four minutes to one hour and 18 minutes, and generated grayish plumes that rose 300 to 800 meters above the summit …

By JEN BAYLON The Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office (PHO) has reported a dramatic increase in the number of dengue cases in the province. PHO’s Morbidity Week No. 44 report, as of November 2, showed dengue cases surged to 5,528, higher by 322.33 percent, compared to 1,309 cases logged in the same period last year. Bago City currently has …