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Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd  District)*The House Committee on Energy will hold a briefing on the deteriorating state of the Visayas power grid and the ancillary service charges being passed on to consumers on Wednesday, September 16.The Committee chaired by Palawan Rep. Jose C. Alvarez has invited resource persons from the Department of Energy, National Electrification Administration, Energy Regulatory Commission, National Power Corporation, National Transmission Corporation, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, Philippine Electricity Market Corporation, and the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines, a press release from the office of Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez (Neg. Occ.,  3rd  District) said Sunday, Sept. 13.The agencies are expec...

Pump prices for gasoline and diesel are projected to increase for another consecutive week starting Tuesday, Sept. 15.The increase is expected to be  driven by global supply disruptions and the continued depreciation of the Philippine peso.The expected price adjustments per liter for gasoline is P5.50 to P6, and  diesel - P4 to P4.50.*

Another batch of scholars of the Negros Occidental provincial government graduated with  Certificates in Educational Administration and Supervision at rites held at the University of St. La Salle–Bacolod on Friday,  September 11.Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson attended the event, together with Board Member Rita Gatuslao, chairperson of the SP Committee on Education; Negros Occidental Scholarship Program OIC Karen Sunday; DepEd Negros Occidental Schools Division Superintendent Gladys Amylaine Sales; USLS Chancellor Minnie Chua; and USLS Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Ricver Ureta, among others.The scholarship is a three-semester program sponsored by the Negros Occidental provincial government in partnership with USLS and DepEd Negros Occidental, which aims to develop th...

The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City has approved a resolution urgently calling on national energy agencies and industry stakeholders to formulate and implement a comprehensive action plan addressing recurring power interruptions, inadequate reserves and other vulnerabilities affecting the Visayas Grid, particularly Negros Island and Bacolod City.Authored by Councilor  Caesar Z. Distrito, the resolution calls upon the Department of Energy, Energy Regulatory Commission, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines, Board of Investments and other concerned agencies to pursue coordinated immediate, medium-term and long-term measures toward sufficient, reliable, resilient and reasonably priced electricity.Distrito s...

The House Committee on Visayas Development is expected to begin its inquiry into the worsening power outages  in the Visayas grid next week, Deputy Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo “Albee”  Benitez said Friday, Sept. 11.Benitez said he filed a resolution on Monday, Sept. 7, seeking the investigation by the committee so all lawmakers from the Visayas can be  involved.They agreed during a Thursday discussion to act motu proprio and will seek approval from the Committee on Rules to schedule the hearing next week, he said.Department of Energy Secretary Sharon Garin has expressed intent to attend the hearing to present her plan for the Visayas grid, Benitez. said.“We’re also doing our homework to find out exactly what the problem is… and what the short-term and long-te...

Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez at the launching of the 2026 MassKara Festival on Friday*Ronnie Baaldonado photoIt is now highly possible that the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on Nov. 2 will be postponed, Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said Friday, Sept. 11.That is because the bills fixing the barangay and SK terms to five years and resetting the polls to November 2028 have made progress in both Houses of Congress, he said.The House of Representatives version has been approved on third and final reading, and the Senate has approved its counterpart measure on second reading.Once fully enacted into law, the legislation will amend Republic Act No. 12232, extending the term length of barangay and SK leaders from four years to...

Modesto Palacios Sa-onoy receiving his Knighthood in the Equestrian Order of Pope St. Sylvester.*photo courtesy of Aufred Sa-onoyNegrense historian, author, and journalist Modesto Palacios Sa-onoy died of pneumonia complications at Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod City at 11:13 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10.He was 88.Sa-onoy died the day before his wife, Verobina, marked her 80th birthday, their son Aufred Paul, said Friday.“He was so many things — an author, a journalist, a teacher, a consultant, an army reserve officer, and an active member of so many organizations. But most importantly, he was a father to me and Angel, a father-in-law to Ephie and Stephen, the loving husband of Verobina Abeto Sa-onoy, a grandfather to Alran, Gabrielle, Sam, and Jaez, and a great-grandfath...

The MassKara dancers at the launch*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe MassKara Festival 2026 was launched with the unveiling of its new “Share the Smile. Celebrate Gugma” campaign along with the introduction of this year’s Miss Bacolod MassKara contestants and street dance competition participants at Roy’s Hotel  in Bacolod City on Friday, Sept. 11.The festival will officially run from October 1 to 18, with post-festival activities extending through October 25. The festivities will peak with the Electric MassKara and streetdance competitions from October 16 to 18.New venues for the major street dance and arena competitions and Miss Bacolod MassKara 2026,   a twin-logo concept, and an expanded lineup of activities aimed at making the celebration more accessible to Bacolodn...