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By CESAR JOLITO III A local radio broadcaster’s remarks allegedly trivializing rape and violence against women went viral and sparked public backlash, drawing strong condemnation from women’s groups, press organizations, lawmakers, and a national government task force. The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) issued a formal statement expressing “grave concern” over the remarks, …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod has approved on first reading a proposed ordinance establishing a centralized emergency communication framework aimed at improving the delivery of verified public warnings and strengthening the city’s response against misinformation during disasters and other emergencies. The measure seeks to institutionalize the Bacolod Emergency Communication System (BECS), which …

By CESAR JOLITO III Residents of Barangay San Isidro in Negros Occidental’s E.B. Magalona town voiced concerns over a proposed bulk water supply project of the provincial government during a public consultation conducted by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) on Wednesday, May 20. Vicente Losbañes, EMB – Negros Island Region director, said several residents raised …

By CESAR JOLITO III The extreme heat being experienced in Negros Occidental is beginning to impact livestock and poultry production, the Provincial Veterinarian Office (PVO) said. PVO head Dr. Placeda Lemana said prolonged high temperatures have caused “stunted growth” among farm animals and reduced egg production among layer chickens in several areas of the province. …

By CESAR JOLITO III Two officials at the Negros Occidental provincial government are now facing formal administrative charges after a preliminary investigation found probable cause for grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas, Jr. confirmed that the case against …

By CESAR JOLITO III The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has denounced the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) for allegedly glorifying the deaths of five individuals, including former student leader Vince Francis Dingding, killed in a recent encounter in Negros Occidental’s Cauayan town. In a statement, NTF-ELCAC Executive Director …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Philippine Army has rejected the results of the so-called national fact-finding and solidarity mission on recent armed encounters in Negros Occidental’s Cauayan and Toboso towns, branding the report as propaganda allegedly aimed at protecting communist insurgent groups. In a statement, army spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala said organizations allegedly linked to …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod City government has partnered with the Regional Civil Security Unit in the Negros Island Region (RCSU-NIR) to bring firearm licensing and registration services closer to residents through a three-day caravan at the Bacolod City Government Center Lobby. The License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF) and Firearms Registration Caravan …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Department of Agriculture in the Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) has increased its allocation for cloud seeding operations to P6 million as the prolonged dry spell continues to affect agricultural areas on Negros Island. DA-NIR Regional Executive Director, Engineer Jose Albert Barrogo said the move is part of intensified government efforts …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod City council has approved on first reading a proposed ordinance seeking to regulate the malicious use of artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfake technology, amid growing concerns over digital misinformation and online impersonation. The proposed ordinance aims to protect the public from deceptive AI-generated content and preserve the integrity of …