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By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod City government has taken a step toward advancing its solid waste management program after formalizing a lease agreement for a proposed waste-to-energy (WTE) facility within the city’s sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa. The agreement grants Forza Development Corporation the use of a 10-hectare property designated as a WTE Industrial …

By CESAR JOLITO III Government troops clashed with suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) at Barangay Masaling in Negros Occidental’s Cauayan town early yesterday morning, the Philippine Army said. Lt. Colonel Dennis Martinez, commanding officer of the 47th Infantry Battalion under the 302nd Infantry Brigade, confirmed that the encounter occurred at 5:25 a.m. …

By CESAR JOLITO III A consumer advocacy group is set to file formal complaints before the Energy Regulatory Commission this week against key players in the power sector, citing what it described as “excessive and unreasonable” electricity charges in the Negros Island Region (NIR). In a press statement released yesterday, Wennie Sancho, president of the …

By CESAR JOLITO III A Philippine Army general underscored the growing demand for peace and effective governance among communities in Panay and Negros, citing recent gains in security operations across the region. Commanding General Lt. General Antonio Nafarrete said residents are increasingly weary of violence and unproductive activities, noting a shift in public sentiment toward …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported 21 volcanic earthquakes at Kanlaon Volcano in just 24 hours from Sunday, May 3 to early Monday, May 4, signaling continued unrest in one of the country’s most active volcanoes. According to Phivolcs, the seismic activity included volcanic tremors that lasted for …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod City council has passed a resolution calling on Mayor Greg Gasataya to investigate possible fuel contamination in the city and to strictly enforce an existing ordinance regulating fuel dispensing pumps in retail outlets. The measure highlights the need to ensure compliance with City Ordinance 601 in 2012, which mandates …

By CESAR JOLITO III A coalition composed of 32 civil society and church organizations has called for justice, transparency and lasting peace following the deaths of 19 individuals in a violent encounter in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town on April 19, as the national government maintains a firm stance against reopening peace negotiations with insurgents. In …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod City council has approved a resolution urging the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) board of directors to terminate its joint venture agreement (JVA) with PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp., citing alleged material breaches in service delivery, investment commitments and operational performance. Authored by Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., the resolution seeks the …

By CESAR JOLITO III A labor group has strongly criticized the national government for excluding private minimum wage earners from cash assistance programs, calling for their immediate inclusion amid rising living costs. In a Labor Day protest statement dated May 1, Wennie Sancho, secretary general of the General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA), urged the …

By CESAR JOLITO III House Deputy Speaker and Bacolod City Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has firmly denied allegations that lawmakers were offered financial incentives in exchange for supporting the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte. Benitez issued the statement following claims by Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte, who alleged that certain members of …