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The weather bureau on Thursday, March 7,   said there is an increasing probability that La Niña would occur from June to July. La Niña Watch was raised by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) as the probability for the phenomenon to occur in the next six months is 55 percent. "Pre-developing La Niña historically, is characterized by below-normal rainfall, therefore, the possibility of a slight delay on the onset of rainy season is likely with the combined effects of the ongoing El Niño," the bureau said. In a press conference, PAGASA Climate Monitoring and Prediction chief Ana Liza Solis said even if the bureau has issued the La Niña Watch alert, the public should still concentrate on the impacts of s...

Pulupandan town in Negros Occidental is one of six local government units in Western Visayas that has been reclassified from an African Swine Fever (ASF) red zone to pink zone by the Bureau of Animal Industry. Dr. Placeda Lemana, provincial veterinarian, said this means Pulupandan complied with the requirements for the submission of regular blood samples that tested negative for ASF, and that no new cases have been recorded since the first one was reported. Pulupandan was the first local government unit in Negros Occidental to record an ASF case last year. Still classified as ASF red zones are Escalante City, Hinigaran, Kabankalan City, La Castellana, San Carlos City, Silay City, Valladolid and Victorias City. The LGUs surrounding the red zones are classified...

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez presides over the water meeting on Thursday, March 7.*   Baciwa-PrimeWater is tapping an addtional 5 MLD (millions of liter per day)  from the  Bocal Bocal Springs in Barangay Alangilan to augment the water needs of Bacolod City. This was agreed on in a meeting called by Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez  with key stakeholders  on Thursday, March 7, to expedite the implementation of the water augmentation initiative aimed at alleviating the ongoing water shortage. Councilor Vladimir  Gonzalez said the initial work, including pipe fusion and subsequent pipelaying, is set to begin Friday.  Once these tasks are completed, the spring is expected to provide 5MLD of water, significantly improving the water s...

SSS personnel issuing show cause orders* The Social Security System (SSS) served show cause orders to 14 more business establishments in Bacolod City on Thursday, March 7, for failure to remit P3.3 million in contributions that has affected 221 employees. The SSS Bacolod and Bacolod East branches will also issue show cause orders to 14 more business establishments on Friday as it continues to enforce its Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) campaign, Josefa Pineda, SSS acting regional communications officer, said. The  SSS Bacolod Branch on Thursday served show cause orders to business establishments in Brgy Mandalagan, 888 Chinatown Square in  Brgy 9 and  888 Chinatown Premier  in Brgy 8, she said. The total delinquency   was P1,739,179....

Yolanda Esguerra - PMPI national coordinator, Dave Claustro of Kakampi Youth Alliance Inc.,  San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza,  Bishop Broderick Pabillo - Vicar Apostolic of Taytay in Palawan,  and Coleen Awit  of Negrosanon Young Leaders Institute Inc. (l-r) at a press conference on Thursday.*CPG photoA national social development network is calling on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  to declare a climate emergency amid the severity of the crisis and on Congress to pass the Rights of Nature bill.The  about 250  Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI) members from around the country issued the call at their 7th General Assembly press conference at Acacia Hotel in Bacolod City on Thursday, March 7. Yolanda Esguerra, PMPI national coordinat...

Senator Grace Poe nagsiling nga indi tanan nga empleyado sang CENECO ang automatic nga makabalik serbisyo sa idalom sang mangin panibag-o nga franchise. Labor union sang Ceneco nag-file sang notice of strike sa kabalaka nga mawad-an sila sang ubra sa tion nga magtake-over na ang Negros Electric and Power Corporation.Indi tanan nga mga empleyado sang CENECO ang automatic nga ma-absorb ukon makabalik trabaho sa idalom sang Joint Venture Agreement sang distribution utility kag Primelectric Holdings Incoporated.Ini ang nangin panindugan ni Senator Grace Poe nga nagpamuno sa Senate hearing sang Committee on Public Services angut sa franchise application sang Negros Electric And Power Corporation ukon NEPC nga karon bunga sang JVA.Ini matapos ginpalab-ot ni Leonard Guilara...

The  Bureau of Fire Protection has started delivering  water to areas in Bacolod City  experiencing low  supply,*BFP Bacolod photo The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has started delivering water to areas in Bacolod City experiencing low supply, as the El Niño phenomenon further exacerbates Baciwa-PrimeWater‘s shortage problem.“Bacolod's BFP is actively collaborating with barangays to address low water supply issues affecting multiple areas. The BFP will prioritize responding to calls initiated by barangay officials exclusively,” the Bacolod City government announced on Wednesday, March 6.“Residents are encouraged to coordinate their water needs through their respective barangay offices,” it added.Baciwa-PrimeWater will also partner with the City Disaster Risk Redu...

Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, Armed Forces of the Philippines Visayas Command chief, who is set to retire on March 21 awarded Negros Island troopers for their bravery in combat during his farewell visit to Camp Major Gerona in Brgy. Minoyan, Murcia, Negros Occidental, on Monday, March 4.Arevalo awarded the 303rd Infantry Brigade troops for their bravery and effort to serve the community during his visit, a press release from the 303IB said.He recognized and awarded the Brown Eagle Troopers, its battalions, and supporting units for their accomplishments and continuous efforts in serving the community, particularly the people of Negros Island, the press release said.Prior to becoming the AFP Visayas Commander, Arevalo was the brigade commander of the 303IB in 2018.He thanked the...

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson (center) with Department of Education-Negros Occidental Schools Division Superintendent Anthony Liobet (left) and University of St. La Salle president Br. Joaquin Severino Martinez after signing the memorandum of agreement for the implementation of the Provincial School Heads Academy Scholarship for 2024 on Tuesday.* The  Negros Occidental provincial government is providing scholarships to about 100 public school heads in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the University of St. La Salle (USLS) in Bacolod City. Karen Dinsay, head of the Negros Occidental Scholarship Program Division, said on Wednesday, March 6,  that 75 slots are open to qualified teachers from the Schools Division of Negros Occ...