Carla P. Gomez

Apr172026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

DA starts distribution of P13.5M aid to 5,840 NegOcc sugarcane farmers

A Negrense recipient of the subsidy for sugarcane farmers.*DA-NIR photoThe first batch of the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF) Program has officially started in Negros Occidental, with the distribution of ₱13,578,000 to 5,840 sugarcane farmers, a Department of Agriculture (DA) official confirmed on Friday, April 17.Jose Albert Barrogo, DA Negros Island Region director, said the list of sugarcane farmer beneficiaries was provided by the Sugar Regulatory Administration and validated by the local government units.He said small sugarcane farmers from eight LGUs will receive ₱2,325 each in fuel subsidies for their operations.Aid to rice and corn farmers, and fisherfolk will follow, Barrogo said.The distribution schedule began on Thursday, April 16,...

Apr172026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Greg orders barangays to stop illegal biz taxes, clearance fees

Top Stories

Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya*Bacolod Mayor Greg Gastaya has issued an executive order directing all barangays to immediately cease and desist from collecting unauthorized business taxes and clearance fees that do not comply with the Local Government Code (LGC).The mayor on Thursday, April 17, said practices that violate the LGC must be corrected to protect the business sector and shield barangay officials from potential legal liabilities.The directive follows several complaints from the business sector regarding barangays imposing taxes beyond their legal authority and computing clearance fees based on gross sales or capital investment, he said.Under Section 152(a) of the Local Government Code, a barangay’s taxing power is limited strictly to stores or retailers with gr...

Apr172026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Talisay, La Castellana named best destination pavilion champs

Top Stories

The La Castellana pavilion that was named the champion in the municipal category.*Ronnie Baldonado photoTalisay City and the municipality of La Castellana emerged as the top winners in the Best Destination Pavilion competition at the ongoing Panaad sa Negros Festival at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City, securing the championship titles in their respective categories.Rudy Reveche, the festival’s overall cultural head, confirmed the results on Friday, April 17, which saw both local government units (LGUs) taking home the top prize of P80,000 each.Talisay was the champion in the city category, while Bacolod City was the 1st runner-up with a P60,000 prize, and Sipalay City was 2nd runner-up with P 50,000.Cadiz City and Bago City rounded out the winners' circl...

Apr172026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Provincial gov’t honors pioneers of Panaad sa Negros Festival

Community, Top Stories

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson (right) and Vice Governor Jose Benito Alonso (left) with the Panaad pioneers Gabriel Alan Motus, Rene G. Hinojales former governor Rafael Coscolluela, former Bacolod congressman and mayor Monico Puentevella, and Chart Motus (l-r) who were honored Thursday night.*Richard Malihan photoThe Negros Occidental provincial government honored the pioneers of the Panaad sa Negros Festival during the Governor’s Appreciation Night at L’Fisher Hotel on Thursday, April 16.The event, a highlight of the festival's landmark 30th anniversary, led by Negros Occidental Gov.r Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Gov. Jose Benito "Joeben" Alonso, recognized the individuals who established the "Festival of All Festivals" in 1993.Leading the list of pioneers who were honored w...

Apr172026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Comelec continuing BSKE preps despite postponement push

Top Stories

Bacolod Comelec voter registration.*The Commission on Elections will continue preparing for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) on Nov. 2 despite moves to postpone it, Negros Occidental Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said on Friday, April 17.Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Thursday said the push to postpone the BSKE due to the current economic crisis brought on by the surge in fuel prices is gaining support.About 95 percent of the members of the Lower House support the move and Senator Panfilo Lacson is also pushing for it in the Senate, Benitez said.The postponement is being sought so funds for the elections can be used to aid the marginal sector suffering from the pinch caused by rising fuel prices fol...

Apr172026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

‘Drug group leader’, two cohorts killed in Escalante firefight with law enforcers

Top Stories

A law enforcer inventories seized items from the suspects.*PDEA photoA joint law enforcement operation turned deadly on Wednesday afternoon, April 15, after an attempt to serve an arrest warrant escalated into a firefight in Barangay Jonobjonob, Escalante City, leading to the death of an alleged drug group leader and two of his companions.The primary suspect was identified as Joseph Bendoy, who had two pending warrants of arrest for violations of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and one for illegal possession of a firearm, PLt. Col. Florendo Fajardo, Escalante police chief, said.Also killed during the encounter were alias “Piolo” of Purok Acacia, Barangay Malasibog, and alias “Roy” of Purok Mahogany, Barangay Jonobjonob, whose bodies were discover...

Apr172026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Albee sets about P2M from own funds for jeepney drivers’ fuel subsidy cards

Business, Top Stories

The ceremonial launching of the Fuel Subsidy Program of Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez Thursday morning.* Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez said on Thursday, April 16, that he is allocating about P2 million from his personal funds for the distribution of fuel subsidy cards to about 1,780 public utility jeepney drivers.The ceremonial launching of his Fuel Subsidy Program was held at his office in Bacolod City Thursday morning.Each driver will receive fuel subsidy cards worth P1,000 that will enable them to redeem fuel at designated gasoline stations in their routes, he saidBenitez said he decided to allocate his personal funds to help the drivers while they are waiting for government subsidy to kick in ...

Apr172026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Negros Power rates up by ₱0.83 in April due to supply shortage

Top Stories

Negros Electric and Power Corp. announced on Thursday, April 16, that its average electricity rate increased to ₱12.2463 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), up by ₱0.8356/kWh from the March 2026 rate of ₱11.4107/kWh.This increase in April is mainly due to higher power supply costs and increased transmission-related charges affecting consumers in the Visayas.There has been a higher cost of electricity supply (generation) as prices from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) increased, Negros Power said.This was attributed to the unexpected shutdown of some power plants, which resulted in reduced electricity supply.“When supply is low—especially during peak hours—prices tend to rise,” Negros Power said.*

Apr172026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Benitez to seek congressional funding for sugar ‘Purchase and Park’ program

Top Stories

Ronnie Baldonado file photoBacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Thursday, April 16, that he will push for Congress’ allocation of funds for the proposed “Purchase and Park” program to address the current over-supply of sugar in the country.The proposed government-led buying program is contained in a manifesto signed by leaders of all sugar federations, millers and refiners, labor, agrarian reform beneficiaries and allied non-government organizations pending before the Office of President.“We in Congress will try to appropriate the funding requirement for the Purchase and Park Program,” Benitez said, as part of the mitigation measures amid the current economic crisis.The suggestion of the Department of Agriculture is P5 billion and the request of the Confede...

Apr172026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Ejercito calls for Senate probe into ₱12.8B sugar revenue loss amid over-importation

Business, Top Stories

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito (seated, second from left) with sugar industry leaders on Tuesday.*Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito filed Senate Resolution No. 369 on Wednesday, April 15, calling for an urgent inquiry into the alleged over-importation of sugar and its detrimental impact on the Philippine agricultural sector.The resolution asks the Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform to investigate the Sugar Regulatory Administration’s (SRA) management of import timings, which stakeholders claim has led to a massive domestic oversupply.The resolution said raw sugar stocks as of March 2026 have climbed to 668,405 metric tons—a significant jump of nearly 100,000 metric tons compared to the previous year—while refined sugar stocks have surged by 38.77 percent.Th...