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By CESAR JOLITO III More than 300 families in Negros Occidental’s La Castellana town have expressed their willingness to be relocated as precautionary measures heighten the persistent threat posed by Kanlaon Volcano. According to John de Asis, head of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), the decision came after a series of consultation meetings …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said the P189-billion Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island Bridges Project is moving closer to construction as its detailed engineering design (DED) nears completion. DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the design for the first segment, a 4.97-kilometer sea-crossing bridge connecting Panay and Guimaras, is now 99 …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) has mobilized more than 1,100 personnel across Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor to maintain peace and order as the nation marks the 53rd anniversary of the martial law declaration on Sunday, September 21. PRO-NIR Director Brigadier General Arnold Thomas Ibay …

By CESAR JOLITO III Ten barangays and seven elementary schools will compete in the highly anticipated 46th MassKara Festival dance competitions on October 18 and 19 at the Paglaum Sports Complex and Bacolod Public Plaza, organizers confirmed yesterday. Bacolod Gugma Foundation director Rodney Ascalon said the school-based competition will open the festivities on October 18 …

By CESAR JOLITO III Recovery efforts for communities devastated by Kanlaon Volcano’s continuing unrest since last year are facing a serious setback after the government slashed the rehabilitation budget by more than 80 percent. From an initial allocation of P203.8 million, only P40.8 million is now available for disaster response and rehabilitation, leaving local officials scrambling to …

By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has formally requested the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to allow the commercial clearing of dried lahar sediments deposited in Tamburong Creek in La Castellana town’s Barangay Biak na Bato. “If we rely only on the equipment of the local government units and …

By CESAR JOLITO III An organic pest management program has been rolled out by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to curb infestations of the red striped soft-scale insects (RSSI), a growing threat to sugarcane production in Negros Occidental. SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said they have collaborated with Hawaiian-Philippine Company (HPCo), which highlights a shift toward sustainable …

By CESAR JOLITO III At least 6,000 Negrenses are expected to join the nationwide “A Trillion March” on September 21, which calls for clean governance and accountability, coinciding with the 53rd anniversary of the martial law declaration. The indignation rally, organized locally by the One Negros Ecumenical Council (ONEC) alongside multi-sectoral groups, will begin at …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has thrown its full support behind a pending bill in Congress that seeks to reduce the value-added tax (VAT) from 12 percent to 10 percent, saying the measure would help struggling households cope with rising costs of living. In a unanimous vote, the council approved a …

By CESAR JOLITO III Provincial and congressional officials in Negros Occidental are seeking special clearance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to remove volcanic debris from waterways in Mt. Kanlaon National Park (MKNP), saying existing restrictions are slowing the clearing response. Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and 5th District Representative Emilio “Dino” Yulo …