By CESAR JOLITO III The Land Transportation Office in the Negros Island Region (LTO-NIR) reported smooth and orderly operations in its intensified road safety campaign under “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos!: Semana Santa and Summer Vacation 2026,” as authorities tightened inspections ahead of the Holy Week travel rush. Based on monitoring conducted from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. …
TOP STORIES
Aid set to roll out for farmers, fisherfolk
By CESAR JOLITO III More than 300,000 farmers and fisherfolk across the Negros Island Region (NIR) are set to receive P5,000 in financial assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA) as the government moves to cushion the impact of rising fuel and commodity prices on the agricultural sector. According to DA-NIR Regional Director Engineer Albert …
Capitol exec in hot water over ‘misconduct’
By CESAR JOLITO III Allegations of workplace misconduct and inappropriate conduct led to the serving of a show-cause order against an official of the Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Operations Section. The memorandum order, dated March 18, was issued by Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II pursuant to Section 10 of …
Sugar workers question SRA transparency over sugar order
By CESAR JOLITO III A labor federation representing sugar industry workers has raised concerns over transparency in the approval of a major sugar importation policy, calling on the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to release the official minutes of the board meeting that authorized Sugar Order No. 8. The National Congress of Unions in the Sugar …
Missing woman remains found after 7 months
By CESAR JOLITO III Human remains believed to belong to a 52-year-old woman who had been missing since August 2025 were discovered at Barangay Dulao in Negros Occidental’s Bago City on Thursday afternoon, March 26. Bago police said the remains were found around 5:20 p.m. in Purok Michelle, approximately 40 meters from the victim’s residence. …
Fuel subsidy rollout for tricycle drivers starts April 8
By CESAR JOLITO III The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to begin the distribution of fuel subsidies to tricycle drivers across the Negros Island Region (NIR) on April 8, benefiting tens of thousands of transport workers affected by rising fuel costs. DSWD-NIR Regional Director Arwin Razo said that approximately 48,000 tricycle …
Vegetable prices drop; rice, sugar edge up
By CESAR JOLITO III Prices of highland vegetables have sharply declined in local markets, offering relief to consumers, while key staples such as rice and sugar recorded slight increases, according to the latest monitoring report from La Carlota City’s public market office. Data gathered from five market respondents showed a notable drop in the cost …
Bacolod City eyes education office with landmark ordinance
By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod has approved on first reading a proposed ordinance seeking to establish a dedicated City Education Office (CEdO), marking a significant step toward strengthening the city government’s role in education governance. The measure, titled the “Bacolod City Education Office Establishment Ordinance of 2026,” aims to institutionalize a centralized …
Kapitan in question over dismantled infra return
By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod City Legal Office (CLO) has issued a formal notice to Barangay 16 Punong Barangay Jason Ligaya following the reported reinstallation of illegal structures and obstructions along a newly cleared road within the village. The notice, dated March 24, was issued by Atty. Bartolome Malde Jr., head of the CLO …
SSS partners with EastWest Rural Bank to bring MySSS Card services closer to rural areas
QUEZON CITY — The Social Security System (SSS) today announced that its MySSS Card will soon reach members in unbanked areas after EastWest Rural Bank (EWRB) became its first rural bank card issuer, a move to expand financial inclusion in underserved communities. SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Joseph M. de Claro and EWRB …