Carla P. Gomez

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson (right) with Provincial Administrator Rayfrando P. Diaz II, Board Member Andrew Montelibano and Mambukal Resort OIC Shiela Fuentes (l-r) cut the ribbon at the inauguration of the renovated the Camp Nolan trail.* Cesar Jolito III photoGov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the inauguration of new and upgraded facilities at the Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary on Thursday, March 26, reaffirms its place as one of the icons of tourism in Negros Occidental.The event marked the opening of the Camp Nolan trail, power house, river dipping area, and Garden Café at the resort located in Murcia, Negros Occidental, which is owned by the provincial government.With initiatives like this, we continue to give new life into the resort—ensuring that it remains relevant, ...

Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez*Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Wednesday, March 25, that he is finalizing the filing of the Bayanihan for Economic Resilience and National Stability Act of 2026 designed to help the country swiftly respond to external shocks.“Essentially, government must move from reactive response to pre-positioned response—so we act before the damage spreads,” he said.Benitez said he is finalizing the bill with House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III on Friday so it can be filed immediately.“Prepared systems lead to faster action. We are working to ensure government can respond quickly while protecting the needs of every Filipino,” Benitez added.The bill seeks to empower the Executiv...

The Bacolod City Health Office (CHO) launched an investigation on Wednesday, March 25, into the diarrheal-like cases involving members of a family who fell ill after eating shellfish in Barangay Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City.  A CHO report said the family ate shellfish for lunch on March 19 and clam soup on March 20. Out of the ten family members, six experienced watery stool, vomiting, stomach aches, and headaches.  These symptoms persisted throughout the weekend, the CHO said.  On Sunday, March 22, three family members sought medical attention at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital. Two were admitted, while the other one was treated as an outpatient, the CHO added. “Water sanitation and disinfection was advised… Pro...

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signs Executive Order 110 declarinag a a state of national energy emergency.*Negros Occidental government and business leaders called President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s declaration of a state of national energy emergency on Tuesday, March 24, a “timely and much-needed” intervention to prevent fuel supply disruptions and stabilize the economy.Marcos, in Executive Order 110, cited the escalating tensions in the Middle East as a key factor threatening global oil production and transportation, which could affect the Philippines as a net importer of petroleum products.House Deputy Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the president’s declaration of a state of national emergency and authorizing the unified package for livelihoods, ...

Seven graduates of the Technological University of the Philippines Visayas (TUP-Visayas) in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, clinched top spots in the March 2026 Electronics Engineering and Electronics Technician Licensure Examinations, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced on Tuesday, March 24.Leading the charge for the university is Herald Anthony Diamonon Cagas, who secured the Rank 1 spot in the Electronics Technician licensure exam.Other TUP-V topnotchers in the Electronics Technician category are:• Rank 2: Lexther Romel Paloma Kimpo• Rank 3: Laurence John Jayme Alfajora• Rank 4: Lester Tongco Braza• Rank 4: Kenneth Beterna SinoyIn the Electronics Engineering board exam, two more TUP-V graduates broke into the top 10:• Rank 4: Lexther Romel Paloma Kimpo•...

Protesting jeepney drivers in Bacolod City on Monday, March 23.* Romeo Subaldo photoLand Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board - Negros Island Region (LTFRB-NIR) director Gerry Llena on Tuesday, March 24, said he will look into complaints that some drivers were not included in the LTFRB list of those entitled to aid amid the rising prices of fuel.Rudy Catedral, president of the Bacolod Alliance for Commuters, Operators and Drivers-Manibela, on Monday said they submitted a list of 380 driver-members to be included as recipients of government assistance, but the LTFRB only approved 240.Catedral also said his name was not among those included in the list.Llena said he heard that Catedral stated that he listed two drivers per jeepney, but the LTFRB central office only...

Kanlaon Volcano spewing ash on Tuesday.* Phivolcs timelapse screengrabKanlaon Volcano on Monday and Tuesday, March 23 and 24, continued to spew ash, but it is not an indication that its alert level will be raised, a Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) official said.Twelve ash emissions were recorded on Monday and four on Tuesday, The volcano remains at Alert Level 2.The ash emissions are a good sign because it means the vents of the volcano are not clogged, Ma. Antonia Bornas, chief of the PHIVOLCS Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division, said on Tuesday.So far, the earthquakes at the volcano have not increased significantly and the sulfur dioxide emissions are close to the long-term average that is about 2,000 tons per day, which is...