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The Suyac Island Mangrove Eco-Park in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, recognized for its exceptional eco-tourism initiatives, has been named awardee of the 2025 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Community-Based Tourism Awards. The awarding ceremony will be held in Johor, Malaysia on January 20. “This award serves as a testament to how community-based tourism has …

Thirty-four barangays in six local government units in Negros Island are at risk of pyroclastic flows should Kanlaon Volcano erupt, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said in an advisory. The villages — located in the cities of Bago and La Carlota, as well as the towns of La Castellana, Pontevedra and Moises Padilla in Negros Occidental; …

Allegations of certain traffic enforcers receiving commissions from the Metro Towing Services (MTS), a private partner of the Bacolod City Traffic Authority Office (BTAO), are not considered illegal, according to BTAO deputy head Jose Antonio “Jojo” Robello. Robello clarified that MTS directly gives a percentage of the fees — P25 for clamping and P50 for …

The amount of assistance provided by the government and its local counterparts to families affected by the eruption of Mount Kanlaon last December 9 has reached P170.5 million, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said yesterday. This includes P109.9 million for Central Visayas and P60.5 million for Western Visayas, according to the …

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) is preparing for the possible escalation of the alert status of Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island to Level 4, which will require the evacuation of additional 100,000 persons within the extended 10-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ). OCD administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said yesterday that while the national government has …

The Bacolod City government is in the process of verifying the title number of a property it purchased in Barangay Granada. City legal officer Atty. Karol Joseph Chiu said the property in question is part of the land acquired by the city government from the Ledesma family. Chiu explained that during the purchase, a certification …

There is no threat so far against 737 local candidates who underwent assessment by the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) in connection with the May 12 elections. Captain Judesses Catalogo, NOCPPO public information officer, said yesterday that they have not received requests for police security. In case there is, the candidates have to submit …

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian has ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Disaster Response Management Group to send more food packs to Negros Island in anticipation of the potential eruption of Mount Kanlaon, which erupted last December and remains on Alert Level 3. In a press release, DSWD said Gatchalian had assured …

Whether or not a candidate has sufficient financial resources to mount a credible campaign should not be a basis to declare him or her as nuisance, the Supreme Court (SC) said in a ruling published on Monday, January 13. In granting a petition, the SC said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) “cannot conflate financial capacity …

By JEN BAYLON Nineteen employees of the Negros Occidental provincial government tested positive for illegal drugs following a surprise drug test conducted on December 18, 2024. Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz II reported that among those who tested positive, three are regular employees, seven are job order workers, six are security personnel, and three are contract-of-service …