Top Stories

Jul252023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Bacolod officials pledge to align local efforts with nat’l agenda

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez takes a groufie with the Negros representatives during the SONA*Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez and Rep. Greg Gasataya said they will continue to align their programs for the city with the priorities of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.Benitez and Gasataya, who issued their statements after the president delivered his second State of the Nation Address at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday, July 24, also thanked him for his dedication to the country.“As the City Mayor of Bacolod, I am committed to aligning our local government efforts with the national agenda to bring about positive change for our citizens, and I am confident that similar dedication is mirrored in leaders across the country,” Benitez said.“Hand ...

Jul242023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Negros officials laud Marcos for prioritizing PGN bridges

Top Stories

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr delivering his SONA.*PNA photoPresident Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured that the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island Bridges spanning 32 kilometers are among the priorities for construction under his administration.Marcos, during his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 24, cited the prioritization of physical connectivity under the country's P8.3 trillion "Build Better More" program to further spur economic growth.The infrastructure spending shall be about 5 to 6 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), with its majority allocated for physical connectivity, he said.“The underlying logic to our infrastructure development is economic efficiency. We are opening up all gateways to mobilize goods and services at less ...

Jul242023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

‘Egay’ rains affect 10,754, OCD says; Sea travel in north Negros cancelled

Top Stories

Rains in Negros Occidental brought on by the Typhoon “Egay” enhanced southwest monsoon have affected 3,183 families or 10,754 individuals in Negros Occidental, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Western Visayas reported Monday, July 24.There were 348 individuals inside evacuation centers, and 848 outside evacuation centers, the OCD said, while the rest were in their homes.The flood affected areas were in Pontevedra, San Enrique, Valladolid, Hinoba-an and Bago City, the OCD 6 reported.The weather disturbance also caused the cancellation of sea travel from Tabuelan, Cebu, via Escalante City and Sagay City, and Daan Bantayan, Cebu, via Cadiz City, on Monday, the Philippine Coast Guard said.PAGASA sees “Egay” strengthening further and becoming a super typhoon by late Tuesday ...

Jul242023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

‘Public health emergency lifting good for economy but be careful’

Top Stories

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s lifting of the COVID-19 state of public health emergency will be good for the economy and tourism, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Monday, July 24.Marcos on Friday issued Proclamation 297, lifting the nationwide declaration of a public health emergency.The lifting of the public health emergency means there is no need to wear masks and show vaccination cards, which is good for the economy, especially tourism, Lacson said.However, Lacson said he is also reminding the public to be careful as COVID-19 is still around.“Let’s just take care of ourselves, especially in crowded areas,” he said.He urged the public to continue to wear masks when they ride on public transportation and go to mass and the Church is full.*

Jul242023 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Fire destroys house

Top Stories

Fire destroyed a house at Purok Kametal, Brgy. Mandalagan, Bacolod City, Monday afternoon, July 24.The fire destroyed the house of Angel Caras, the Bacolod City Fire Station reported.The fire was reported at about 2:42 p.m. and was extinguished at about 3:12 p.m., it added.The BFP placed the destruction at P19,250.*

Jul242023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Sugar industry had good year under Marcos, governor says

Top Stories

The sugar industry had a good year under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration.That was Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson’s reaction when asked to rate the performance of the president.Lacson, who decided not to attend the State of the Nation Address because of PAGASA’s warning that severe tropical storm Egay could intensify into a super typhoon, said he hopes the sugar farmgate prices would remain at P3,000 per Lkg despite government’s granting additional importation.“There are many questions with regards to importation, the bottom line is can we expect the same prices as we had in the first year of the present administration,” he said.On the Sugar Council’s call for the Sugar Regulatory Administration to allow sugar milling to start in August instead of September, Lacson...

Jul242023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Protestors slam Marcos, oppose Ceneco JVA

Top Stories

The protestors in front of the Fountain of Justice in Bacolod City on Monday.*About 300 protestors led by Bayan-Negros slammed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. whom they called a “failure” at a rally in front of the Fountain of Justice in Bacolod City Monday afternoon, July 24.They do not believe the president’s state of the nation address because he has been in office for a year and the lives of the people have not changed, Bayan Negros spokesman Noli Rosales said.Marcos has had no action, proper plan and direction to improve the lives of the people, Rosales claimed.Rosales also slammed government for allowing private firms’ take over of the Bacolod City Water District and Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO), the killing of leaders of farmers, contractualization, an...

Jul242023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

BACOD strike fails to disrupt Bacolod public transportation

Top Stories

The transportation strike of the Bacolod Alliance of Commuters, Operators and Drivers (BACOD) on Monday, July 24, had a minimal effect on commuters in Bacolod, City Administrator Pacifico Maghari said.“It was business as usual for public transportation in Bacolod City…everything was normal,” Maghari said.City government and police vehicles were on standby for residents who would need assistance, he said.Rudy Agsam Catedral, BACOD president, said they were protesting the phase out of traditional jeepneys by December and calling for the removal of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board officials in Western Visayas for the delay in the release of their provisional authorities to operate.The BACOD rally centers were at the old Bacolod airport in the south at t...

Jul242023 by Ferdinand PatinioNo Comments

PH agri sector logs 2.2% growth in Q1 2023: Marcos

Business, Top Stories

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 24, reported that the country's agriculture sector has recorded a 2.2 percent growth in the first quarter of the year.During his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa, the Chief Executive noted that times and calibrated importation helped in boosting agricultural produce.“Our aim is to boost our local agricultural production—through consolidation, modernization, mechanization, and improvement of value chains—augmented by timely and calibrated importation, as needed,” he said.“We have seen the agriculture sector grow by 2.2 percent in the first three months of this year,” Marcos, who is also Agriculture chief, added.He also reported the government’s method of achieving food security is now guided ...

Jul242023 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

PCCI power industry council convening in September

Business, Top Stories

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-led Electric Power Industry Coordinating Council is set to convene in September this year to discuss industry programs and issues that need to be addressed in the country.This came after the Energy Regulatory Administration (ERC) agreed to the creation of the council during their meeting with business leaders on July 20, PCCI Vice President for the Visayas Frank Carbon told DIGICAST NEGROS on Monday, July 24.Carbon, who sits as the PCCI Director for Energy and Power, said that two executives from the ERC together with Undersecretary Rowena Guevarra from the Department of Energy will attend the first meeting of the coordinating council in September.The Electric Power Industry Coordinating Council aims to monitor the industry player...