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By CESAR JOLITO III Bacolod City Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has denied any political or business ties to the owner of Legacy Construction Corporation, the country’s top contractor handling a significant portion of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) flood control projects. In a radio interview, Benitez clarified that he has …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod City government is moving to demolish an abandoned building along 4th Lacson Street that has long served as a refuge for street children and informal settlers, citing safety and public order concerns. The Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) Anti-Mendicancy Task Force confirmed that the dilapidated structure has …

By CESAR JOLITO III Heavy rains combined with clogged drainage canals caused flooding at Generoso Villanueva Sr. National High School in Barangay Granada on Wednesday afternoon, August 20, leaving around 400 students stranded inside the campus. Barangay Granada chief Armando Vito confirmed that garbage and thick vegetation blocked the drainage system, preventing rainwater from flowing …

MANILA — The legal team of Filipino religious leader Apollo Quiboloy called on the Marcos administration yesterday to let Philippine courts decide on his criminal case before rendering a decision on the United States’ request for his extradition. In a message to reporters, lawyer Israelito Torreon said the Quiboloy camp recognizes that, under the extradition …

By CESAR JOLITO III Bacolod City Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez dismissed recent legal questions raised against the projects implemented during his term as city mayor, calling them a form of “political harassment.” In a radio interview, Benitez said all projects under his administration strictly followed due process and underwent complete transparency. “We were transparent, …

By CESAR JOLITO III Cadiz City Mayor and Negros Alliance of Chief Executives (ACE) President Salvador “Bading” Escalante, Jr. has expressed support for calls demanding transparency and accountability in government flood control projects. In a radio interview, Escalante stressed that public officials have a duty to ensure openness in all government undertakings, whether carried out by …

  Fifteen minors have been rescued from city streets since last week in a joint operation by the Department of Social Services and Development’s (DSSD) anti-mendicancy team in Bacolod City. Of the 15 minors rescued during the operation, four were girls. All were brought to the Youth Home for necessary intervention. Authorities have been patrolling …

BACOLOD CITY — Consumers in Negros Occidental will see only a slight adjustment in their power bills this month, as Negros Power announced an average residential electricity rate of P11.50 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for August 2025, up by just P0.13 per kWh from July’s P11.37 per kWh. The increase comes despite a significant surge in the Wholesale Electricity …

By CESAR JOLITO III Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego has firmly opposed the Negros Occidental provincial government’s plan to source water from the Imbang and Hinalinan Rivers for its bulk water project, citing threats to local communities already vulnerable to shortages during dry spells. Gallego said the Malogo River should instead be considered as an …

By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the provincial government is prepared to purchase a new property for the Central Philippines State University (CPSU)–Moises Padilla Campus amid issues with the current site’s ownership documents. Lacson confirmed yesterday that they have allocated funds for the property acquisition. He acknowledged that finding an …