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The Federation of Urban Poor at the statue of former senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino at Araneta St. In Bacolod City.*The Federation of Urban Poor - Negros (FedUp) marked the 39th EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary in Bacolod City with a call for citizens to exercise their right to vote for officials who are trustworthy, and not to allow money to determine their choices in May.The FedUp members laid flowers at the Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Monument at Araneta Street in Bacolod City and held a caravan to the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Barangay Bata for a mass to remember the ordinary Filipinos' heroism at EDSA 39 years ago, Joy Jarabelo, the groups head, said.She said the theme of their EDSA Day commemoration was “"the glory of saving one's country cannot be given to those...

The  ongoing repair of the Medina Water Treatment Plant spring intake.*San Carlos LGU photo Flooding damaged a water treatment facility in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday affecting 4,000 consumers. San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo said on Monday, Feb. 24, that the flooding damaged the Medina Water Treatment Facility cutting off a major source of water, as it produces about 4 million liters a day. The engineer said the repair of the facility could take a week, but he is pushing for it to be completed within three to four days, Gustilo said. Meanwhile, water tankers are rationing water to affected residents, he said. Heavy rains in the mountains of San Carlos City caused flooding in Brgy 1 and 5 on Sunday, Joe Recalex Alingasa, San Carlos ...

St. Scholastica’s Academy of Bacolod City   marked the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution with various activities at its school campus on Monday.*SSA photo Mayor Jose Nadie Arceo has  declared the suspension of work in government offices and classes in public schools in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, to commemorate the 39th anniversary of the  EDSA  People Power Revolution on Tuesday, Feb. 25. The EDSA People Power Revolution, which took place on February 22-25, 1986, remains one of the most significant events in Philippine history, symbolizing the Filipino people's unity, democracy, and commitment to freedom, Arceo said in Executive Order 003,  Series of 2025, issued Monday, Feb. 24. Arceo said he was suspending classes to give an...

The remains of the Jaojoco ancestral home after the fire.*photo curtesy of Richard JaojocoThe ancestral home of Councilor Richard Jaojoco who is seeking a comeback as mayor of Toboso in Negros Occidental in the May polls was destroyed by fire on Friday, Feb. 21.Jaojoco said on Monday that he and his wife, Toboso Mayor Madonnah Jaojoco, were in Manila for the graduation of their daughter when the fire hit their house at 2 a.m. Friday.The fire that lasted for three hours destroyed the 80-year-old house valued at about P3 million and everything in it at Purok Malinawon, Barangay Poblacion, Toboso, he said.The fire was believed to have been caused by faulty electrical wiring.Jaojoco said his daughter, Dominique 22, graduated magna cum laude with an accountancy degree from D...

Former Negros  Occidental governor Rafael “Lito” Coscolluela*Former Negros Occidental governor Rafael “Lito” Coscolluela on Monday, Feb. 24, said “the power of the people needs to be rekindled, but it won’t happen without a spark, without leadership, and without an organization”.On Tuesday the nation marks the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution that toppled Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s rule.On October 2024 President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Proclamation No. 727. which downgraded the celebration of the People Power Revolution to a Special Working Holiday.“The EDSA miracle was a golden opportunity that we wasted. Thirty-nine years of struggle and we are back to a Marcos presidency and self-serving politics dominated by corruption, misgovernance and underdevelop...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez  (left) and Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) at the  House Committee on Visayas Development meeting on Monday.*Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said he pushed to fast-track the appointment of the national government agencies' regional directors in the Negros Island Region on Monday, Feb 24.Benitez joined the House Committee on Visayas Development meeting on the appointment of the regional directors.“This morning at Batasang Pambansa, we pushed to fast-track the appointment of NIR’s regional directors - a crucial step in strengthening governance for the region,” Benitez said in a Facebook post.“We are building the Negros Island Region, step by step we continue to move forward,” he added.*

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. discusses the Kanlaon situation with Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, La Castellana Mayor Rhummyla Mangilimutan, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, mayors Nicholas Yulo of Bago City, Rex Jalandoon of La Carlota City, Gerry Rojas of Murcia and Jose Chubasco Cardenas of Canlaon City (l-r) in La Carlota City on Friday.*The mayors of the towns and cities affected by Kanlaon Volcano’s unrest have informed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that their local funds are running out, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday, Feb. 24.Lacson, Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer and the mayors whose constituents have been staying in evacuation centers for more than two months met with the president during his visit to La Carlota City on Friday, Feb. 21.“The president su...

Fishermen in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, pulling in their net.*Ronnie Baldonado photoNegros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he is joining other local government units in appealing to the Supreme Court to reverse its decision allowing commercial fishing in the 15-kilometer municipal waters, which threatens the livelihood of small fisherfolk.It also threatens the billion-peso blue crab industry, he said.Lacson said he has also asked the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan to pass a resolution opposing the SC ruling.The case where Mercidar Fishing Corporation questioned the constitutionality of the Fisheries Code of the Philippines was lost at the SC because of a technicality, he said.Someone was remiss and failed to file a reply within the 15-day...

Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo has ordered an investigation into a complaint of a father whose newborn baby died at the Bago City Hospital last week.The father claimed there was negligence on the part of the hospital staff that caused his son to die and his wife to be in critical condition.His wife was in labor for 12 hours and asked to give birth by caesarian, but her request was not heeded, the complainant said.The father's complaint quickly went viral on social media.The hospital submitted an incident report to the mayor yesterday morning.Yulo said the City Legal Office will lead the fact-finding team to find out what happened.If it is proven that there is negligence on the part of the hospital, the mayor assured that someone will be held accountable.The mayo...

The Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) on Monday, Feb. 24, guaranteed the safety of thousands of visitors of two overlapping major events scheduled in March.The Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) meet will be held March 9 to 17 and the Regional Junior/Senior/Cadet Encampment of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) from the entire Visayas will be on March 10 to 14.Lt. Stephen Polinar, NOPPO spokesperson, said that on top of the security measures relative to the May 12 elections, there are enough officers to secure the visitors at different venues and billeting places.Polinar said an estimated 3,000 athletes, coaches, and other delegation members are coming for the CVIRAA while more than 1,000 participants are expected during the GSP event....