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Senator Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri*Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri is urging Negros Occidental congressmen to file a counterpart bill in the Lower House seeking to grant the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) powers to regulate the entry of sugar substitutes and artificial sweeteners into the country.Zubiri, in an interview on Monday, said he has already filed a bill seeking to grant the SRA regulatory powers over the importation of sugar substitutes and artificial sweeteners that are causing the drop in the country’s sugar millgate prices.These substitutes are currently not under the mandate of the SRA to regulate, he said.However, his proposed bill needs a counterpart measure in the Lower House, Zubiri said.Zubiri also said about 40 percent of sugar users have ...

The Bacolod City Health Office (CHO) is encouraging Bacolodnons to undergo blood pressure screening in barangay health stations, in observance of the Philippine Heart Month.In 2025 alone, there were 2,989 hypertensive patients aged 20 to 59 and 4,025 others aged 60 and above as indicated in the city’s records under the Philippine Package of Essential Non-Communicable Disease Intervention (PhilPEN) Risk Assessment.Dr. Carr Cedric Ocampo, medical coordinator of the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, said on Tuesday these figures are higher compared to the cases recorded in 2024, based on PhilPEN Risk Assessment Screening tool.“Any increase in cases is alarming. Hypertension commonly does not have symptoms thus, we highly encourage Bacolodnons to cooperate with our barangay ...

The police arrested a mother and daughter during a buy-bust operation at Purok Progreso 1, Barangay Vista Alegre, Bacolod City, on Sunday night, Feb. 22.The suspects were identified by the police only as “Esme,” 49, and “Bambam,” 25, of Bacolod City.The operation, carried out at around 8:38 p.m. by the City Drug Enforcement Unit of the Bacolod City Police Office with the support of Police Station 7 and the Bacolod City Mobile Force Company (BCMFC) operatives, led to the seizure of about 60 grams of suspected shabu worth an estimated P408,000.Authorities said alias “Esme” is listed as a high-value individual and had a prior arrest in 2021 for violation of Republic Act 9165.Police said the buy-bust was conducted after intelligence operatives received information from a confid...

Negros Occidental officials at the meeting with former Eastern Samar governor Ben Evardone (4th from left, seated) in Bacolod City on Saturday.*The Negros Occidental provincial government, Bacolod City, and 31 other local government units in the province will receive ₱2,044,800,338 under the Bawat Bayan Makikinabang (BBM) program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, this year, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Sunday, Feb. 22.The provincial government will receive ₱342,000,000, and the rest of the ₱2 billion will go to the towns and cities for rice distribution programs and infrastructure, Lacson said.The mayors have already been informed of their shares, Lacson said.Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) hosted a meeting attended by former Eastern Samar governo...

The Landbank rollout of its “LIFTING MSMEs Lending Program” at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City on Friday.*The Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) kicked off the first regional rollout of its “LIFTING MSMEs Lending Program” outside Metro Manila, in Negros Occidental on Friday, Feb. 15.Landbank First Vice President Eden Japitana, who was at the kickoff at the Padayon MSME Fair at Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City, said the program will make loans more accessible for working capital, purchase of equipment, and business development.The loans for small businesses will have interest rates of 8–10 percent per annum, which is the lowest in the market, Japitana said.Start-ups or those who are just starting their business can borrow up to P500,000, a...

Department of Information and Communications Technology Undersecretary for Special Concerns Christina Faye De Sagon (right) and DICT-Negros Island Region Director Jeff Ramil Taboso at a press conference in Bacolod City on Friday.*PNA/Nanette L. Guadalquiver photoOfficials of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Friday, Feb. 20, committed to implement initiatives that will fast-track the delivery of digital services closer to remote areas, including disaster-hit communities, in Negros Occidental.DICT Undersecretary for Special Concerns Christina Faye De Sagon, in a press conference in Bacolod City, underscored the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. “to accelerate digital transformation and ensure that no Filipino is left offline.”“Kaya...

Representatives from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) conducted mapping work in Sitio Bairan, Brgy. General Luna in Toboso, where a landslide occurred.Engr. Hospicio Carbajosa Jr., Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer, said, the MGB's assessment includes checking the topography and terrain of the area.They are still processing this data. In the second week of March, the MGB team will return to Toboso to check the underground situation using their instruments, Carbajosa said.It is not yet clear whether the ground deformation in Sitio Bairan was caused by a landslide or sinkhole, Cabajosa said."So far, they have no official findings because they have to do more tests. On Wednesday they purely did mapping. They checked the topography of the terrain an...

Dozens of jobseekers were hired on the spot during the 2026 Valentine’s Day Job Fair at SM City Bacolod North Block on Saturday, February 14.Organized by the Bacolod City Public Employment Service Office (PESO) under Manager Jovelyn Canoy, the one-day fair drew 3,653 applicants—1,672 males and 1,981 females.Of these, 2,895 met or closely matched hiring standards (1,345 males and 1,550 females), with 46 applicants hired on the spot.Qualified applicants were endorsed for further screening, interviews, or processing based on each company’s requirements.More than 70 local and international companies participated, offering roles across hospitality, retail, skilled services, business process outsourcing, and overseas employment sectors.The February 14 event marks the 27th job...

Negros Occidental’s provincial government  has granted its job order (JO) and contract of service (COS) workers the five-day wellness leave credits approved by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for the duration of their contract. The inclusion of the JO and CO workers in the internal guidelines on the implementation of the wellness leave is stated in Executive Order (EO) 26-03 issued by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson. “JO and COS employees may now start availing of five days wellness leave pursuant to Governor Bong Lacson’s EO,” Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said in a Facebook post on Thursday. Last month, Diaz said the governor signed contracts for the renewal of services of the province’s 1,095 ...

Sugarcane waiting to be milled in Negros.*Ronnie Baldonado file photoGovernment officials and lawmakers on Monday, Feb. 9. agreed on a set of immediate and longer-term measures to stabilize the sugar industry, as declining farmgate prices, refining constraints, and market uncertainty continue to pressure farmers and stakeholders.The agreement followed a Jan. 23 consultation with sugarcane farmers, millers, refiners, and other stakeholders, which surfaced concerns over falling farmgate prices, excess raw sugar, and gaps in policy coordination affecting the market.Senator Francis Pangilinan, together with Rep. Mark Enverga (Quezon 1st District) and Rep. Eleanor Bulut-Begtang (Apayao Lone District), joined Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and other officials in mappi...