Press Release

Amid rising global concern over the Nipah virus, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero urged health and border authorities to maintain strict vigilance and ensure that preparedness systems remain fully operational.Escudero said that although current health advisories place the Philippines at low risk, developments in neighboring regions underscore the need for sustained, proactive monitoring.“Public safety depends not only on rapid response but on continuous readiness,” he stressed, noting that several Asian countries have already tightened airport health checks following recent Nipah‑related developments abroad.The Philippines must match this level of alertness to safeguard travelers and communities, he pointed out.Nipah virus, first detected in Malaysia in 1998, has resurfa...

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero is calling on the national government to advance the proposed tripartite agreement among the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Department of Agriculture (DA), saying the framework will empower qualified local government units (LGUs) to achieve accelerated growth through improved infrastructure, stronger rural connectivity, and better school facilities.In his recent conversation with Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, Escudero said he was informed that the proposed agreement identifies two key requirements for LGUs that will be prioritized: demonstrated capacity to implement and complete projects, and a stable peace‑and‑order environment that allows development programs to proceed without dis...

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency–Regional Office Negros Island Region conducted drug testing for personnel of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency–Negros Island Region as part of the government’s nationwide mandatory drug testing program. The activity was held at the NICA–NIR Regional Office in Bacolod City in support of the agency’s Drug-Free Workplace Policy on Monday, Jan. 26. The drug testing was led by PDEA RO–NIR Assistant Regional Director Marjorie Ballesteros with technical support from Adonis Abueva, chief chemist of PDEA RO6, and was coordinated with NICA–NIR under Regional Director Victor Wanchakan. A total of eight NICA–NIR personnel underwent drug testing, all of whom tested negative. PDEA RO–NIR said the activity re...

After filing the VAT-free electricity to ease household costs, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has filed Senate Bill No. 498 to mandate insurance coverage and additional benefits for line workers who build, maintain, and repair the country’s electrical transmission and distribution systems.  “They perform both critical and dangerous work,” Escudero said in the bill’s explanatory note. “Yet a number of them do so bereft of any form of coverage against death, accidents, illness, and other fortuitous events that could be sustained in the line of duty.”  The proposed Line Workers Insurance and Benefits Act seeks to require private distribution utilities, electric cooperatives, and transmission or grid operators to provide insurance coverage and entitlements such as retire...

The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City has unanimously approved a resolution urging the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA), and the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), through Mayor Greg Gasataya, to increase the monthly allowance of the city’s Senior Citizen and PWD association presidents from ₱500 to ₱1,000.Authored by Councilor Caesar Z. Distrito, Chairperson of the SP Committee on PWD Affairs, and Councilor Celia Flor, Chairperson of the SP Committee on Senior Citizens, the measure highlights the critical role played by barangay-based association leaders in ensuring that government programs and services reach senior citizens and persons with disabilities efficiently, a press release said Thursday, ...

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said electricity sales should be exempt from the 12-percent value-added tax (VAT), saying this targeted relief in the power sector under his proposed bill would have immediate impact and ease household and industrial burdens without undermining fiscal stability.Escudero acknowledged the recent remarks of Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, who cautioned against proposals to revert the expanded VAT to 10 percent owing to the government’s P1.6 trillion debt, and emphasized that his measure differs fundamentally as it does not reduce VAT across the board but instead zeroes in on electricity, a sector where relief is most urgently needed.“While broad tax cuts may strain government revenues, lifting the tax on electricity is a fiscally responsible choice...

The Riverside Medical Center, Inc. (RMCI) has officially been granted Accreditation Platinum status by the Accreditation Agrement Canada under the Qmentum International Accreditation Program.With the strong support of RMCI Management, led by President & CEO Genesis Goldi Golingan, Riverside successfully underwent a rigorous and comprehensive accreditation process. This milestone was made possible after an in-depth in-house self-assessment spearheaded by the Total Quality Division, through the highly capable Mr. Rodel Llave.Following this, both local and international peer surveyors conducted an on-site evaluation, thoroughly assessing Riverside’s leadership, governance, clinical programs, and services against Accreditation Canada’s internationally recognized standards for q...

 Globe is speeding up efforts to restore broadband services in Bacolod after Typhoon Tino damaged fiber lines and electrical posts across the city. Staying true to its Alagang Globe commitment, the company is prioritizing customers’ needs as teams work round the clock to bring connectivity back to homes. While the main network systems are operational, much of the impact remains in the lines that connect directly to homes, which took the heaviest hit during the storm. Globe teams continue to work across affected barangays with the support of LGUs and power partners to safely access and repair damaged routes. “We’re moving quickly to bring services back,” said Adonis Evangelista, Head of VisMin Broadband Field Operations at Globe. “Bacolod’s recovery is...

Mayor Greg Gasataya issued a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) against the construction of a concrete riprap structure along Sulom Creek in Barangay Villamonte on Friday, November 28,   as part of the city’s intensified campaign to clear waterways and protect the environment.The order followed an inspection of the perimeter fence on November 21, by city officials led by Gasataya, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said.“When we inspected the area, we noticed that the land was very loose and may be prone to landslides, especially since there are residents living below the site. We do not want any casualties, which is why urgent action is necessary,” City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu said, citing multiple violations related to the ongoing construction.Earli...

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero commended on Tuesday President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for pursuing evidence-based investigations into the flood control budget irregularities that have led to the filing of corruption and malversation cases, stressing the importance of accountability and cautioning against diversions that only protect the guilty and harm the innocent.During the Senate plenary deliberations on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget, Escudero said the administration, as stated by Secretary Vince Dizon, has indeed chosen to follow the evidence wherever it leads, even when politically sensitive.“Binabati ko po ang administrasyon dahil hindi sila sumunod at nagpadala sa anumang script o sarswela para ilihis ang mga tunay na salarin tulad ng sinabi ko ...