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Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, on Thursday, June 12, said he has called for a temporary halt of all earth moving activities at a palm oil plantation in Candoni, Negros Occidental.Lacson issued the call in a letter to Alfred Joseph Araneta, chief executive officer of Hacienda Asia Plantations Inc. (HAPI) pending its compliance with government requirements, including an Environment Compliance Certificate (ECC).The governor reminded Araneta that a Multi-Partite Monitoring Team, conducted a monitoring activity on March 20, and explicitly required HAPI to secure an ECC before proceeding with its plantation establishment activities.“However, despite this clear directive, we have received reports from local community members and observed through videos circulating on social media that HAPI...

Applicants at the Kalayaan Job Fair at SM City Bacolod.*DOLE photoA total of 77 applicants were hired on the spot at the Kalayaan Job Fair to mark the country’s 127th Independence Day at the Main Atrium of SM City Bacolod as of 5 p.m. Thursday, June 12.There were also 2,309 job seekers who filed applications, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) data showed.DOLE-6 Regional Director Sixto Rodriguez Jr. said there were a lot of applicants at the job fair in Bacolod who formed long lines .He also interviewed and hired on the spot applicants for the Government Internship Program, Rodriquez said.More than 10,000 jobs were available at the Kalayaan Job Fair.There were 8,852 local jobs offered and 1,534 for Canada, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Malaysia and China.*

The 127th Independence Day celebration at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City.*Richard Malihan photoNegros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson called the frontliners who have assisted those affected by Kanlaon volcano’s eruptions and its continued unrest modern day heroes at the 127th Independence Day celebration at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on Thursday, June 12.“The eruption of Mount Kanlaon, which started a year ago, once again reminded us of the strength of our people — our first responders, our healthcare workers, our volunteers, our public servants — ordinary citizens rising to extraordinary challenges,” he said.Lacson, who thanked the Kanlaon frontliners for their work, said they embody the same spirit that guided the nation’s heroes who fought for indepe...

The police arrested a butcher and a tricycle driver and seized suspected shabu worth P612,000 in a buy-bust operation in Purok Cadena de Amor, Brgy. Handumanan, Bacolod City, on Wednesday, June 11.Bacolod City Drug Enforcement Unit cops arrested Conrado Enojo, 47, a butcher and an alleged high-value drug personality, and Ronilo Figueroa, 37, a tricycle driver, both from Brgy. Handumanan.Recovered from them were 11 sachets of suspected shabu weighing 90 grams.The suspects are now detained at Bacolod Police Station 10 and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.*

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson explaining plans for the internally dispplaced residents of La Castellana.*Two properties in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, are being eyed as permanent relocation sites for residents displaced by Kanlaon Volcano’s unrest, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Thursday, June 12.“Right now there are already two owners whose properties passed the grade so to speak,” he said.“We are now negotiating with them,” Lacson said.The provincial government earlier allocated funds to assist the La Castellana municipal government in acquiring a relocation site but the area identified was not approved, he said.He said internally displaced residents will be allowed to leave the evacuation centers if they decide to move in with relatives living outside Kanl...

Commission on Elections Chairperson George Garcia*PNA/Yancy Lim photoThe Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to hold an emergency meeting next week to discuss the ongoing preparations for the Dec. 1 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) amid the growing likelihood that it will be postponed.Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said the meeting will focus on the procurement of election paraphernalia and voter registration, among others."We will have an emergency meeting with the Comelec next week to discuss what things need to be stopped for the time being. For example, procurement – there are items that should not be purchased for now because they might get damaged, such as indelible ink," Garcia said in an online interview on Thursday, June 12."There are also...

Two people, including a teenager, were injured after they were shot by an unidentified alleged drug suspect at a basketball court in Purok Langis, Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City, early Wednesday morning, June 11.Alias “Alvin”, 32, and a 15-year-old boy, were injured after they were shot multiple times.The suspect was allegedly engaged in an illegal drugs transaction with Alvin when he suddenly shot him, the police reported.The 15-year-old boy who was a bystander was also hit.Alvin was hit in the foot and shoulders, while the 15-year-old was hit in the stomach.The suspect fled and remains at large.Alvin is an alleged known drug personality.The parents of the 15-year-old are also drug personalities who are currently under police custody.The police said they have i...

Two bird hunters found human skeletal remains near the Binalbagan River in Hacienda Lourdes, Brgy. San Jose, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, June 11.Maj. Jun Ray Batadlan, Binalbagan Police Chief, said the skeletal remains were found in a grassy area with a lot of trees.Some of the skeleton parts were already missing as the victim might have been dead for months, he said.The were no missing individuals reported in the barangay, the police said.*

Department of Labor and Employment-Western Visayas Director Sixto Rodriguez Jr. (seated, 3rd from left) leads the signing of partnerships with the officials of Ilog Kinderhome Foundation Inc., Christian Advocates for Justice and Development-Negros Inc, and Sugar Industry Foundation Inc. for the prevention and elimination of child labor in Negros Occidental at 888 GT Mall in Bacolod City on Thursday.*PNA/Nanette L. Guadalquiver photoThe Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has partnered with three non-government organizations (NGOs) to strengthen efforts toward child labor prevention and elimination in Negros Occidental in observance of the 2025 World Day Against Child Labor.DOLE-Western Visayas Director Sixto Rodriguez Jr. forged partnerships with Ilog Kinderhome Foundation In...

Senator Imee Marcos announced that the Senate on Wednesday night, July 11, ratified the bicameral conference committee report fixing the terms of office of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to four years.The final bill also postpones the December  2025 barangay and SK elections to the first Monday of November 2026 and every 4 years thereafter, she said.Marcos said the final bill sets a four-year term of office for elected barangay officials and SK members, or a year more than the current  three years.The barangay officials will be allowed  a maximum of three consecutive terms while  SK officials will have one term with no reelection, she said.The reconciled version of the bill, duly approved by both chambers, will be  submitted to Malacaña...