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By JEN BAYLON The Sugar Council has voiced concerns over the potential impact of removing non-tariff barriers on local agricultural production, as it may lead to import liberalization and the decline of domestic farming amidst global food supply shortages. Non-tariff barriers are policy measures which restrict trade, such as quotas, import licensing systems and regulatory …

The Bacolod City Comprehensive Health Program (BacCHP), which marks its first year this month, has partnered with all seven hospitals in the city to provide in-patient hospital services, especially to indigent patients. These medical facilities are the Department of Health-retained Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, and private health care institutions Bacolod Queen of Mercy …

The Bacolod City government, together with its various partners, has delivered some 526,000 liters of water to El Niño-hit households in the past three weeks. Data yesterday showed that from April 9 to May 1, the water delivered benefited 26,629 households in various villages in the city. Among those who availed of water rationing were residents …

A total of 40 New People’s Army (NPA) members were neutralized in just one month of focused military operations from April 1 to 30, an Army official said. Lt. General Fernando Reyeg, commander of the Visayas Command (Viscom), said the number was a reflection that the NPA continues to bear significant losses due to the …

  An increase in the sulfur dioxide (S02) emission reaching 2,707 tons was observed in Kanlaon Volcano on Tuesday, April 30, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. The volcano has been emitting an average of 1,300 tons per day this year, while a high average of 3,098 tons was recorded last January …

  The municipality of E.B. Magalona in Negros Occidental has put the spotlight on its famous products — blue crabs and coffee — in celebrating 35 years of its main fiesta, the Ugyonan Festival, which is being held until May 1. The northern Negros town is known as the province’s blue crab capital for its …

  Over 2.4 million Filipinos have already submitted applications as registered voters for the May 2025 midterm polls. Latest data from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed there are now 2,473,922 individuals who filed their applications since the start of the resumption of registration activities last February 12 until April 29. In an interview on …

  Government troops deployed to Negros Oriental will not be pulled out despite the province being declared already under a state of Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS), a military official said yesterday. Brigadier General Joey Escanillas, commander of the Army’s 302nd Brigade based in Tanjay City, said the transition from the Armed Forces of the …

  Five newly completed national government-funded community structures amounting to P44.3 million are benefiting barangay residents and students in various local government units in Negros Occidental, reports of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) showed yesterday. These projects include multi-purpose buildings located in Barangay Tan-awan, Kabankalan City worth P9.8 million; Barangay Tabu, Ilog, …

  By JEN BAYLON Bacolod City Legal Office (CLO) head Atty. Romeo Carlos Ting, Jr. said yesterday the city hall employee allegedly involved in falsifying a receipt has resigned from her post. Ting said the employee, assigned to the Bacolod City Traffic Authority Office (BTAO), submitted her resignation letter on April 26. Earlier, Ting said a show-cause order would be …