Top Stories

The family of a call center agent who died after she was thrown from a motorcycle and hit by a black pick-up truck near the flyover at Araneta Street in Brgy. Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City, early Tuesday morning, June 10, is calling for justice.Trisia Ann Ovas, 27, sustained head injuries, while her live-in partner, McKevin Absen, 28, who was driving the motorcycle, sustained minor injuries.Police investigation revealed that the Yamaha Aerox motorcycle driven by Absen was traveling at high speed during heavy rain when it slid on the wet road.Ovas, who was on her way to work, was thrown towards the opposite lane and was hit by a pick-up truck driven by an unidentified person.Police EMSgt. Rodney Tiania, Bacolod Traffic Management Unit assistant head, called on the public to...

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to craft a “long-term” energy plan for Siquijor, in view of the crippling power woes in the province, Malacañang said Wednesday, June 11.Presidential Communications Office and Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said Marcos is seeking the implementation of a permanent power system in Siquijor within six months.“The President ordered the Department of Energy and NEA to formulate a long-term energy plan for Siquijor to ensure stable, reliable, and adequate service,” Castro told Palace reporters.“This includes the repair of plants, transmission lines, fuel logistics, and technical standards” , she said.Marcos is “mad and dismayed” wit...

The police have identified a person of interest who may lead to the culprit behind the death of a Bacolodnon whose body was found in Purok Yap, Brgy. Alangilan, Bacolod City, on Monday, June 9.Maj. Marc Joeil Reclamado, Bacolod Police Station 5 commander, on Wednesday said that based on the information they gathered from the relatives and friends of Christian Bawang, they have identified a person of interest.Bawang was found dead in a grassy area beside the barangay road, with his hands and feet tied with duct tape, his mouth gagged, and “Winston Bawang ikaw ang dason pusher” written on a carboard placed above his body.Winston Bawang is the name of the victim’s father and Reclamado said that it might be him instead of his son who was the target.Reclamado said that they are ...

Negrenses calling for the impeachment trial light candles in front of the San Sebastian Cathedral Tuesday evening.*Ronnie Baldonado photosAbout 250 Negrenses gathered in front of the San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City Tuesday night to call on the Senate to proceed with the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte and allow the truth to prevail.“We Negrosanons call on the senators to proceed immediately with the impeachment trial against VP Sara Duterte in a fair and just process”, a statement signed by the participants said.“We also strongly insist that all public officials must have accountability for their actions, words and decisions,” they said.They said they were issuing the statement so truth and justice will prevail in the country.Duterte is ac...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez*Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez said the Lower House and Senate bills seeking the extension of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials’ terms are welcome moves.Either of the two measures that is finally adopted will be welcome, Benitez said.The current three year terms are “disruptive to effective services. They cannot plan long term governance,” Benitez said.The Bicameral Conference Committee is expected to reconcile the Lower House and Senate bills and may ratify the final version by Wednesday before Congress adjourns, Board Member Richard Julius Sablan, Negros Occidental Provincial Liga ng mga Barangay president, said.The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading Monday nig...

The La Carlota CDRRMC meeting on Tuesday*The La Carlota City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Negros Occidental has recommended the decampment of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from schools used as evacuation centers to enable regular classes to resume.The recommendation was made in response to the growing clamor from the education sector, parents and students to normalize school operations, the CDRRMC said in a Facebook post.During a meeting on Tuesday, June 10, the CDRRMC recommended to Mayor Rex R. Jalando-on that IDPs from areas outside the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) be allowed to return home by June 13.This move will enable schools currently serving as evacuation centers to resume full in-person classes by June 16, addressing the p...

The power crisis is hurting Siquijor's tourism industry*The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Siquijor passed a resolution on Tuesday, June 10, urging power crisis relief for consumers, Board Member Brylle Deeiah Tumarong-Quio said.The resolution, moved by Quio and unanimously seconded by all members present, reflects the collective concern of the provincial legislative body over the continuing power instability affecting households, businesses, and essential services across Siquijor, a post on the board member’s Facebook page said.The resolution formally urges the Provincial Electric Cooperative of Siquijor (PROSIELCO) to explore and implement temporary consumer relief options such as payment extensions, disconnection moratoriums, or other mitigating actions, she said.The resolu...

A brownout grips the island province of Siquijor*photo courtesy of Jessha Sumalpong Facebook pagePresident Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered a full investigation into the Siquijor Island Power Cooperative (SIPCO) amid continuing power outages in the province, Malacañang said Tuesday, June 10 .The directive comes as Siquijor grapples with a persistent energy crisis, compounded by water shortages and loss of livelihood among residents.According to Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, Marcos has already summoned outgoing Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla and Acting Secretary Sharon Garin to address the situation.The President has also instructed relevant agencies to move swiftly.“The President has issued a directive for a thorough investigation into the power provider Siquijor...

About 325,000 students under the Negros Occidental Department of Education Schools Division are expected to return to school on Monday, June 16.More than 1,100 policemen will be deployed by the Negros Occidental PNP to ensure the smooth opening of classes, Col Rainerio de Chavez, provincial police director, said Tuesday.The police will be deployed to ensure a peaceful opening of classes, he said.The week-long Brigada Eskwela is ongoing as part of the preparations for the opening of classes which will start on June 16.Enrollment started on Monday and will last until Jun 13.Negros Occidental DepEd Schools Division spokesperson, Ian Arnold Arnaez, reminded parents to comply with the requirements, especially the submission of the birth certificates of their children.Com...

NVC president Millie Kilayko, Merco Obas of BOFA and Maricen Jalandoni, Base Bahay President and Hilti Foundation Asia Liaison (l-r) cut the ribbon at the inauguration of the NVC Food Processing Center.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe NVC (Negrense Volunteers for Change) Food Processing Center, a long dreamt of farm based pre-processing plant, built to boost the livelihood of famers and their families in a remote 100-hectare area classified as an ancestral domain in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, was inaugurated on Tuesday, June 10.The center was built with the Cement-Bamboo Frame Technology of Base Bahay Foundation Inc., supported by the Hilti Foundation.This structure is a testament to the power of innovation and collaboration, Millie Kilayko, NVC presi...