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At least three local government units (LGUs) in Negros Oriental have  declared a state of calamity due to agricultural losses and damages induced by the El Niño phenomenon. Adrian Sedillo, executive director of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), on Tuesday, April 23,  said the  three LGUs are Bayawan City, Sta. Catalina, and Mabinay.Mabinay town was the latest LGU to make the declaration on Tuesday, while the two other LGUs placed their areas under a state of calamity during  the weekend.“Following the declaration of a state of calamity by the three LGUs, the provincial government can now also do the same for the entire province of Negros Oriental based on existing guidelines,” Sedillo said.He added that the Natio...

Former Hinoba-an mayor Ernesto Estrao*Former Hinoba-an mayor Ernesto Estrao said on Tuesday, April 23, that he is conducting consultations on whether he should run for representative of the 6th District of Negros Occidental in the 2025 polls.Estrao, who has been appointed Partido Demokratiko Pilipino   6th District chairman, said he is considering running for the position but is still consulting with the people to gain their support.Estrao said he has no resources because he is poor but he is rich in goodness and in friends, especially in the hinterlands of the south.Rep. Mercedes Alvarez is up for a third term and representative of the 6th District in 2025.Estrao said PDP plans to field mayoralty bets in  towns and cities of Negros Occidental.He, how...

The Northern Negros Electric Cooperative has announced a P2.57 per kilowatt-hour increase in its  electricity rates this month.NONECO said its  electricity rate for April is P14.5674/kWh, P2.5709 higher than last month’s P11.9965/kWh.It attributed the increase to  the spike of electricity prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market that is at P8.1846/kWh, P2.4557 higher than the P5.7289/kWh in March.Their records also showed that the rates on their systems loss increased by P0.2811 while their transmission charges decreased by P0.2146/kWh.Last week, Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) also  announced a P1.7287 per kilowatt-hour increase in its power rates this month, while the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative’s (NOCECO) is P3.4742/kWh....

Election Officer Kathrina Trinio-Caña*The   Elections Registration Board of the Commission on Elections  has disapproved 10 voter applicants  in Bacolod City, Election Officer Kathrina Trinio-Caña said on Tuesday, April 23.Their applications were  disapproved  because they have existing registration  records in other places, she said.They disapproved six applications last week and four on Monday, she said.“We gave them a chance to correct their applications and some did not show up that is why we disapproved their registration,” she said.Trinio-Caña also said that the  ERB hearings are still ongoing as they are still waiting for the verification of some applications from the Comelec central office.After the hearings, they will...

The Power Watch secretary-general is urging the Senate to expedite the approval of the Negros Electric Power Corporation (NEPC) franchise to level up the operations of Central Negros Electric Cooperative.Wennie Sancho, in a statement  Tuesday, April 23,   said that  granting of the NEPC franchise will be a morale-booster for consumers who can no longer bear the suffering brought about by power outages.“Our distribution lines that move electricity over long distances are built on transmission equipment that average 20 to 30 years old or more, and much of which have passed their usefulness and reliability”, Sancho said.Brownouts not only give rise to irritation but also serve as a disincentive to investments and thereby are  obstacles to employment genera...

NEA Administrator Antonio Almeda (center) at the press conference that was shown live on the NEA Facebook page on Tuesday.*The National Electrification Administration (NEA) has ordered the removal from office of 12 members of the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO) board of directors for awarding themselves P65,534,504.20 in various allowances and benefits that NEA considers “unauthorized and invalid”.It also cited two former managers of NOCECO in Kabankalan City in its decision for “involvement in the improper disbursements” and for unduly receiving P22.2 million, NEA Administrator Antonio Almeda said at a press conference on Tuesday, April 23.The NEA Board of Administrators in a decision against the 14 dated April 18 meted the penalty of removal from office, the a...

Isabela and Pulupandan  towns  in Negros Occidental got   new chiefs of police during   separate  turnover rites  on Monday,  April 22.  Maj. Edfel Balibadlan is the new officer-in-charge of the Pulupundan  Police Station replacing Capt. Emman Anacleto. Anacleto served the Pulupandan Station for almost a year. The turnover ceremony was led by NOCPPO provincial director,  Col. Raniero De Chavez, and  Pulupandan Vice Mayor Anthony Gerard Suatengco. Meanwhile, Maj. Ellendie Rebusquillo is the new officer-in-charge of the Isabela Police Station replacing Capt. Ar-jay Dangarang. Dangarang served as the Isabela chief of police for about one year and three months. In his speech, ...

Hawaiian-Philippine Company (HPCo)*Newly rebranded planters group “The Sugar Association Inc.”, formerly the Vicmico Planters Association, has secured acceptance as one of the accredited partner associations of  Hawaiian-Philippine Company (HPCo) in Silay City. “We are honored to be formally recognized as one of the partner associations of HPCo. The Hawaiian sugar mill is known for integrity and transparency in its operations, and fair treatment of its partner planters. We look forward to a cordial and mutually beneficial working relationship with HPCo in the years to come,”  Aurelio Gerardo “Bodie” J. Valderrama Jr., president of The Sugar Association, said in a press release Tuesday, April 23. “We express our gratitude and appreciation to HPCo and to the o...