Carla P. Gomez

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Marco Schlüter and Edgardo Uychiat (l-r) after the signing of the agreement.* Richard Malihan photoThe global spotlight will shine on Negros Occidental in November 2027 when the province hosts the 22nd IFOAM Organic World Congress and General Assembly, a milestone event expected to provide a major boost to the local economy.Marco Schlüter, Vice President of IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements)  Organics International, highlighted the event's economic potential on Friday, May 29, as the organization officially entered into a partnership with the Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Inc. (NISARD) for the holding of the congress.The partnership agreement was formally signed by Schlüter and NISARD P...

The National Democratic Front-Negros (NDF-Negros) on Thursday, May 28, rejected localized peace talks proposed in Negros Occidental.The NDF-Negros, in its statement, said any genuine attempt at peace negotiations must be conducted on a national scale, asserting that a nationwide conflict demands a nationwide resolution.“Their message remains uncompromising: until the state is ready to talk about land, livelihood, justice, and sovereignty, the revolutionary forces will maintain their stance, and the fire of resistance will continue to burn across the archipelago, undivided,” it said.Bayani Obrero, NDF-Negros spokesperson, characterized the call for localized peace talks a calculated maneuver by the “reactionary state” to pacify and divide the revolutionary movement under t...

Irene Bel Ploteña, Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer, points to the PAGASA report.*CPG photoEl Niño  is expected to hit other parts of the country  but it appears that Negros Occidental will be spared.The  Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecast is that the western side of Luzon and Visayas will be spared from the dry spell, Irene Bel Ploteña, Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer, said on Thursday, May 28.Negros Occidental is located on the western side of the country, she  pointed out.According to PAGASA, the majority of climate models suggest a 92 percent probability of El Niño in the June-July-August season and could continue until the early part of 202...

Denouncing the "culture of division and disinformation," San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza on Thursday, May 28, said attempts to twist and weaponize  his statement on the situation in the  Senate are unfortunate, clarifying it was a broad moral appeal rather than a defense of any political faction. “They only further contribute to the culture of division, disinformation, and political manipulation that continues to wound our people,” he said. He said his statement on May 26   was never intended to defend any political bloc, faction, family, or party. “It was a moral appeal addressed to all public officials, regardless of affiliation, who place political survival, personal interests, partisan maneuvering, and power struggles above th...

Pexels file photoThe Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM)  is aiming to start  cloudseeding operations in Negros Occidental and  Western Visayas  in the first week of July to mitigate  crop damage caused by the lack of rain.The BSWM has already bid out the cloudseeding project and is currently in the process of awarding the contract for the procurement and rental of the aircraft, Department of Agriculture-Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) Director Jose Albert Barrogo said on Wednesday, May 27.The bureau has allocated ₱6 million for the initiative, but could increase the amount if needed, Barrogo said.Barrogo said the cloudseeding team will be stationed in Bacolod City. Crews will be on standby to deploy immediately once suitable cloud formations ...

Rep. Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District)*Calling out a "quiet injustice" where citizens are bound by laws they cannot easily access,   Rep. Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District)    filed House Bill 9468 on Tuesday, May 26.The measure seeks to establish the "Philippine Open Law System," a free, consolidated, continuously updated, and searchable public platform for the nation's legal issuances, statutes, and jurisprudence.The bill also institutionalizes strict safeguards for AI-assisted legal information services, he said.In a privilege speech in the House on Monday, May 25, Benitez noted that while the text of Philippine statutes is technically public through the Official Gazette and the Supreme Court E-Library, th...

Residents  may face higher electricity bills next month following an announcement from the local distribution utility regarding tightening power supply conditions.Negros Electric and Power Corp. (Negros Power) issued an advisory on Wednesday, May 27, warning that a limited supply of electricity in certain areas of the country could drive generation costs up in the upcoming billing cycle.The utility acknowledged the financial strain that price hikes place on local communities, stating that it recognizes how any upward adjustment in electricity rates directly impacts both households and businesses.In response to the tightening supply, Negros Power assured the public that it is actively monitoring grid conditions and implementing measures to secure power volumes efficiently. ...

Senator Imee Marcos delivering her privilege speech during Monday's plenary session in the Senate.*San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza on Tuesday, May 26, appealed to the country's senators  to restore dignity, sobriety, and integrity in public service, calling recent developments in the Senate "deeply troubling and disappointing".Alminaza slammed a recent two-hour Senate debate over a video presented by  Senator Imee Marcos, stating that the issue could have been resolved in 10 minutes.He told DIGICAST NEGROS the time should have been devoted to urgent national concerns directly affecting ordinary citizens."What we are witnessing is not simply a waste of time," Alminaza said, "It is a denial of meaningful public service to poor Filipinos who expect the Senate to...