HEADLINE

By JEN BAYLON Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the local sugar industry will be affected by the government’s plan to import 200,000 metric tons (MT) of refined sugar in September, which aims to address the supply gap before the milling season starts in October. Lacson warned that the importation would lead to an oversupply …

By JEN BAYLON The high sulfur dioxide gas emissions from Kanlaon Volcano last Friday, June 28, may be a contributing factor to the increased seismic activities at the volcano, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said yesterday. Mari Andylene Quintia, Phivolcs resident volcanologist from the Kanlaon Volcano Observatory in Negros Occidental’s La Carlota City, in an interview, …

By JEN BAYLON The Confederation of Sugarcane Producers Association (Confed) has expressed surprise and concern over the government’s plan to import 200,000 metric tons (MT) of refined sugar in September, citing a lack of basis for the proposal. In his letter to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Confed president Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama, Jr. said a report …

The Department of Health in Western Visayas (DOH-6) is closely monitoring water sources in Negros Occidental’s La Castellana town for possible contamination after the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano earlier this month. The DOH-6 reported concentrations of coliform bacteria from 13 water sources in the town near Kanlaon. DOH-6 director Dr. Adriano Suba-an advised residents to …

By JEN BAYLON The National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP) said the government should only import sugar when it is “absolutely necessary,” stating that it should be their last resort to ensure stable prices of the commodity. This comes after the Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to import around 200,000 metric tons of refined sugar …

By JEN BAYLON The Negros Occidental provincial government is one step closer to providing water security in the province as it gears up for the bidding for the bulk water supply project today. Provincial Legal Office head and Acting Provincial Administrator Alberto Nellas, Jr. said all systems go for the bidding process this afternoon. Ten private bidders are set to …

By JEN BAYLON Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson expressed mixed sentiments on the conduct of cloud seeding operations in the province. While acknowledging that there is no need to conduct cloud seeding, Lacson said it is still an option. “If you ask me now, I would say na, maybe there’s no need na,” Lacson said, …

  By JEN BAYLON Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson suggests that it would be crucial to wait for a recommendation from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) before allowing residents affected by the phreatic eruption of Kanlaon Volcano to return to their homes. “We will continue to observe because if the volcano has …

By JEN BAYLON Expelled Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnolfo Teves, Jr. was released from house arrest in Timor-Leste, his legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio said over the weekend. In a statement on Saturday, June 22, Topacio confirmed reports circulating in Timor-Leste media about Teves’ release by the tribunal conducting extradition proceedings. Teves was freed but under …

By JEN BAYLON The Negros Occidental provincial government’s P1.2 billion bulk water project is legally viable even though the Silay City government has yet to issue a Resolution of No Objection (RONO) for the project, Atty. Jessa Genteroles, provincial public-private partnership focal person, said yesterday. However, Genteroles said they are eager to obtain the RONO to ensure a …