Watchmen Daily Journal
DRY SEASON DILEMMA
Councilor Wilson Gamboa, Jr. cautioned that unresolved financial and operational issues involving Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) and its joint venture partner PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp.
Read Full Story (Page 1)
QUIETER THAN USUAL
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson reported a visible decline in tourist traffic to popular road trip destinations like Don Salvador Benedicto town, signaling what could be a quieter-than-usual Holy Week for local tourism...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
REQUEST EXTENSION
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Negros Island Region (DENR-NIR) confirmed that the Pollution Adjudication Board issued a temporary lifting order, permitting Universal Robina Corporation’s (URC) ethanol-producing facility to...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
BIODIESEL PROJECT SEEN TO CUT FUEL COSTS OF UP TO 50%
Farmers and fisherfolk could save up to 50 percent on fuel expenses through the use of biodiesel, according to project proponents, following the relaunch of a renewable energy initiative at the Barangay Taculing Community Center in Bacolod City...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
LUKAY VENDOR WEAVES PALM SUNDAY TRADITION ALIVE
Faith, family and tradition continue to intertwine outside San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City as 74-year-old Maria Rita Bantillo carries on a 47-year-long livelihood of selling woven palm fronds, locally known as “ramos” or “lukay,” every Palm...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
ECOSYSTEMS UNDER THREAT
In their manifesto, participants and stakeholders examined ecological interconnections and promoted climate-resilient farming practices, including so-called “green carbon” initiatives, following a two-day summit dubbed “Panguma” that brought together...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
NIR BACKS PGN BRIDGE
The NIR Regional Development Council confirmed its unified support for the PGN Bridge Project during the 1st Quarter 2026 Full Council Meeting held in Siquijor on March 24. Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the region remains aligned...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
BIOETHANOL DEMAND BOOST
The National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines - Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (Nacusip-TUCP) has expressed strong support for the proposal to raise the country’s ethanol blend from E10 (10 percent) to E15 (15...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
FLOOD HIGH RISK
Vice Mayor Rhumyla Nicor Mangilimutan confirmed that the local government is finalizing a collaboration with Jerry Sy, chief executive officer of Silver Dragon Inc., to undertake full-scale dredging operations on the town’s major river system at no...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
Transport groups to hold strike, rally today
Several transport groups in Bacolod City called for public understanding as they prepare to stage a transport strike and protest rally on Monday, March 23, citing the continued surge in fuel prices and lack of sufficient government support. Members of...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
NACUSIP-TUCP WANTS SRA TO EXPLAIN SUGAR PRICE DROP
A major labor group in the sugar sector called for greater transparency and leadership changes within the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) amid the recent decline in sugar prices. In a statement, the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
INQUIRY TRIGGERS SLUMP?
“Ang hearing nga ila ginabasol, amo ang nagprotekta sa aton,” Benitez said, underscoring that the inquiry aimed to stabilize the industry and support farmers. He described as “baseless and irresponsible” the allegations circulating online that linked...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
RESTRUCTURE REFUSAL
In a decision, the CA sustained the validity of Baciwa’s reorganization pursuant to its joint venture agreement (JVA) with PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. The ruling, penned by Associate Justice Roberto Quiroz, with concurrences from Associate...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
Bacolod gov’t resumes fuel price monitoring
The Bacolod City government has resumed inspections of gasoline stations across the city as part of efforts to monitor fuel prices and ensure adequate supply following recent increases in petroleum products. Mayor Greg Gasataya ordered the deployment...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
30th Sinigayan Festival: A living culture, history
Sagay City’s 30th Sinigayan Festival officially opened at the public plaza yesterday, highlighting the role of culture, creativity and education in strengthening community identity. Delivering the keynote message on behalf of Education Secretary...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Kanlaon erupts for 3rd time
Kanlaon Volcano had another moderate explosive eruption at 6:07 p.m. yesterday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. The eruption produced a massive ash column that rose approximately five kilometers into the sky...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
STRIKE A BALANCE
The Bacolod City council has passed a resolution calling on the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to take strict action against hoarding and price manipulation of petroleum products amid the economic impact of...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
RETURN TO FOLD
According to 3ID Public Affairs Office chief Jessie Jun Ebalan, the more than 50-year armed campaign of the New People’s Army has resulted in loss of lives and fear among residents, particularly in rural areas. Ebalan urged rebel remnants to return to...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
NO FARE HIKE PUSH
Leaders of local transport organizations said operators and drivers agreed to maintain the current fare rates to avoid adding further burden to commuters who are already struggling with rising living costs. In an interview, Bacolod Alliance of...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
Gasataya to implement 4-day workweek
Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya has ordered the implementation of a four-day workweek in city government offices starting March 16, as part of efforts to reduce electricity and fuel consumption amid rising global oil prices linked to tensions in the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SAVE ENERGY AMID RISING OIL PRICES, NEGROS CONSUMER GROUPS SAY
Consumer advocacy groups in Negros are urging the government and the public to adopt stronger energy conservation measures as rising global oil prices threaten to drive up electricity costs and the overall cost of living. The Alliance of Concerned...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
CONSERVATION POLICY
Rising fuel prices forced the Negros Occidental provincial and Bacolod City governments to implement separate power and fuel conservation measures, including a compressed four-day work week, as part of the national government’s contingency measures to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
MGB TO CONDUCT RE-INSPECTION OF SUSPECTED SINKHOLE IN TOBOSO
Geologists from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) are set to conduct a critical follow-up inspection on March 10 and 11 in a suspected sinkhole area affecting two sitios at Barangay General Luna in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town. The inspection...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
KEEP ‘SWEET’ TALKS
The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has agreed to support the direct government purchase of domestic sugar, a move backed by the Confederation of Sugar Producers Association (Confed) and the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
COLLAPSE NEARS?
In a strongly worded statement, the BinalbaganIsabela Planters Association (BIPA) said it is issuing its warning “with a profound sense of disheartenment, bordering on absolute indignation,” as farmers witness what it called the systematic destruction...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
‘Lack of consultation’ quizzes waste-to-energy plan
The Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE) Inc. has formally challenged the inclusion of a waste-to-energy (WTE) component in Bacolod City’s proposed 10-year solid waste management plan, citing the absence of public consultation...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
LONGER-TERM STAYS
Vice Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan said the initiatives are intended to provide safer shelter and sustainable livelihood options for families living within Kanlaon Volcano’s four-kilometer danger zone and other vulnerable sectors of the...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
RESOURCE ‘EXTRACTION’
“I am firmly against illegal mining. Any extraction of our natural resources without lawful permits, regulatory compliance and environmental safeguards is unacceptable. The rule of law must prevail,” Reliquias said in a statement. “We will stand firm...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
BACOLOD FIRE RAZES 100 HOMES
A major fire that broke out at Purok Katilingban 1 in Bacolod City’s Barangay 39 late yesterday morning affected nearly 100 households, with firefighting operations initially hampered by the limited availability of fire trucks deployed for ashflushing...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
SUGAR ORDER SOON
The commitment was made during the first hearing of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food held in Quezon City on Wednesday, February 25. Negros Occidental 5th District Representative Emilio “Dino” Yulo, vice chairperson of the House Committee on...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
RESIGN NOW
Labor group National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry in the Philippines (Nacusip) urged sugar board officials, including Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), to step down, blaming the agency’s...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
A JUSTIFIED PRICING?
Bacolod City Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez is pressing the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to immediately explain and reassess what he described as “excessive” overnight parking fees at Bacolod-Silay...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
ENSURE JUSTICE
In a statement, the 3ID reported that at least 28 individuals have been killed across Negros Island since March 2025, averaging about two fatalities per month. Military officials stressed that the victims were civilians and non-combatants, including...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
CALM AFTER ERUPTION
Mari-Andylene Quintia, resident volcanologist at the Kanlaon Volcano Observatory, said monitoring instruments continue to show signs of unrest, prompting scientists to closely evaluate the volcano’s magmatic system. Speaking in a media interview over...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
DANGER ZONE CLEARED
Evacuations were carried out on Thursday night, February 19, in two barangays considered at higher risk, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said. Widespread light to very light ashfall, accompanied by sulfuric odor,...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
EXPLOSIVE ERUPTION
Kanlaon Volcano generated a dark gray plume that rose 2,000 meters above the crater before drifting southwest following a moderately explosive eruption yesterday afternoon, February 19, 2026, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said....
Read Full Story (Page 1)
FIND ANOTHER SOURCE?
The Negros Occidental provincial government has decided not to pursue sourcing supply from the rivers of Silay City for the proposed P1.1 billion bulk water project after the Silay City council denied Capitol’s request for a Resolution of No Objection...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
POWER COSTS UP?
In a statement, the Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services (ACCESS) said the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) approval of higher transmission rates was driven largely by the recovery of past under-recoveries and an...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
SUBSIDENCE WORSENS
Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco said that the local government is awaiting an urgent on-site assessment from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to determine the severity and cause of the ground movement in Barangay General Luna’s Sitio Bairan. What...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
2 DEATHS PER MONTH
The killings average about two victims per month based on data compiled by security forces, the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) said in a statement. Those killed include farmers, peasants and elderly residents — individuals with no direct involvement in...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
UNIFIED VOICE
A broad coalition of electricity consumers and church workers is set to formally launch the Alliance of Consumers in Northern Negros (ACNN) in Bacolod City, positioning itself as a unified consumer voice as the Visayas braces for possible power supply...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
ACCESS TO CARE
The Bacolod City government has rolled out a new digital platform aimed at strengthening access to services for treating persons living with human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) as the city recorded 1,312...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
DO KIDS KNOW THE SUSPECT?
Police said the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) handling the case is now focusing on the two individuals as inquiries intensify into the assault that left the children bloodied inside their residence on February 7. Lt. Colonel Joem Malong,...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
FIRM POLICY SUPPORT
HEAVY RAINFALL, FLOOD ALERT FORCE SUSPENSION OF CLASSES IN NEGOCC
Read Full Story (Page 1)
KEEP THE PACE
The stakeholders said the planned consultations will serve as the primary mechanism for identifying priority amendments to SIDA, particularly provisions that no longer reflect current industry realities. “Central to the plan is engaging stakeholders...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
‘This is terror’: NTF-ELCAC on NPA’s spy-tagging tactic
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has strongly condemned the killing of a 74-year-old grandmother in Negros Occidental’s Kabankalan City, describing the incident as a case of “spy-tagging” that escalated into a...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
POORLY DESIGNED
In a press statement released on Thursday, February 5, AGHAM said Bacolod historically did not suffer from severe flooding, except in limited lowlying areas such as parts of Barangay Singcang and Banago. However, in recent years, floods have reached...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
‘Basyang’ strands over 700 in NIR ports
Tropical Storm “Basyang” has disrupted maritime travel across the Negros Island Region (NIR), leaving a total of 759 passengers, drivers and helpers stranded in various seaports yesterday. The Coast Guard District in Southern Visayas (CGDSV) reported...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Basyang’ nears; NegOcc on red alert
The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Emergency Operations Center have been placed under red alert status due to the threat posed by Tropical Depression “Basyang,” which is expected to cross Negros...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
P10-M IN DAMAGES
Data from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office showed that 193 houses were either damaged or destroyed, while agricultural losses alone reached at least P6.55 million as of February 2. These losses include P2.22 million worth...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
‘I’M NOT HIDING’
“As your mayor, akon ini responsibilidad. Wala ko ‘ya nagapanago,” Gasataya said yesterday, amid criticisms following recent flooding incidents in several areas of the city. “Waay na ‘ni ‘ya tudloanay. Atubangon ta ‘ni. Let’s bite the bullet because...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
Shear line triggers flooding in NegOcc; 1 dead
The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported flooding and landslide incidents across several local government units in the province following continuous rainfall brought by a shear line on Saturday night,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
NO WATER ACCESS?
Councilor Wilson Gamboa, Jr. raised concerns that city residents could once again face reduced or total water supply interruptions, pointing to reported nonpayment of past dues and loan obligations by PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. to its...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
CELL NO. 5 LANDFILL BREAKS GROUND AS LONG-TERM WASTE SOLUTION PUSHED
The Bacolod City government formally began the construction of Sanitary Landfill Cell No. 5 in Barangay Felisa, a move aimed at strengthening the city’s waste management capacity while it transitions toward long-term, sustainable solutions. Mayor Greg...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
BREAK THE CYCLE
Councilor Israel Salanga, author of the amended ordinance, said the measure is designed to break the cycle of street dependency while addressing public safety concerns raised by residents. He stressed that the updated policy prioritizes regulation and...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
Search continues for missing Negrenses in cargo vessel sinking
Two Negrense seafarers are still unaccounted for following the sinking of the Singaporean-flagged cargo vessel MV Devon Bay near Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on January 23. In its Facebook post yesterday, the Negros Occidental...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Cadiz City caps 52nd Dinagsa Festival with color, unity, record crowds
Cadiz City wrapped up the 52nd Dinagsa Festival, with massive crowds, high-energy street performances and a strong message of unity, overcoming challenges posed by looming weather threats and the ongoing sugar industry crisis. The 10-day celebration,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
CRITICAL CONDITION
Lawmakers from Negros Occidental called on the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to urgently address the continued decline in sugar mill gate prices, warning that the situation threatens the livelihood of tens...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
ADVERSE FACTORS
Key government officials, industry leaders, planters, and workers convened for a high-level public consultation to address the continued decline in mill gate sugar prices in Negros Occidental, a development that has triggered heavy losses across the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
NO SIGNIFICANT RISK
DA-NIR Director Engineer Albert Barrogo said the monitoring showed the presence of rice black bugs in only four out of 10 rice fields sampled, with the pest population recorded at just 0.6 percent. “The population level is very low and does not pose a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
BEWARE OF ‘TRASH COLLECTORS’ SOLICITING CASH: BENRO
The Bacolod City Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) has issued a public warning against individuals and groups falsely posing as garbage collectors to solicit cash donations from residents. BENRO officer-in-charge Allyn Luv Dignadice...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
POWER CRUNCH
The Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services (ACCESS) said it is backing warnings raised by the Cebu Electricity Rights Advocates (CERA) that Cebu may soon enter a “critical energy” phase, with ripple effects across...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
WATER FOR ALL
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said the newly inaugurated Sum-ag Water Treatment Plant will ensure a reliable and sustainable water supply for Bacolod City, with the facility capable of delivering up to 75 million liters of potable water per day,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Does ‘foreign object’ in donated food pose health risks?
The Bacolod City government has issued a health advisory and tightened regulations on donated food after a “foreign object” was discovered in cups of arroz caldo distributed at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) on Friday, January 16. City...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SAVE THE INDUSTRY
In a press statement yesterday, GAWA Secretary General Wennie Sancho said the resilience of the sugar industry is being severely tested as stakeholders struggle to keep the sector afloat amid what he described as disjointed government policies and...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
NO ‘SUPER FLU’ CASES IN NEGOCC: PHO
The Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office (PHO) has assured the public that there are currently no recorded cases of “super flu” in the province, amid an observed increase in flu, pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses. “What we are seeing in...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
RELIEVED FROM POST
The Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) has administratively relieved the provincial director of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NORPPO) in the wake of a recent shooting incident involving police officers in...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
LA CASTELLANA RELOCATES STRANDED ‘TINO’ EVACUEES TO REOPEN SCHOOLS
The La Castellana municipal government has begun transferring evacuees of Typhoon “Tino” from public school classrooms to temporary family tents as part of efforts to resume face-to-face classes while a longer-term relocation is being...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
FULL-BLOWN CRISIS
The Confederation of Sugar Producers Association Inc. (Confed) has appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. for immediate and concrete interventions to stabilize domestic sugar and molasses prices, warning that continued inaction could trigger labor...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
PROACTIVE POLICING
Based on consolidated crime data, incidents under the Eight Focus Crimes category fell from 1,299 cases in 2024 to 1,012 cases in 2025, marking a reduction of 287 incidents or about 22.1 percent. Crime statistics showed notable decreases in several...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
INEFFICIENT SERVICE
ACCESS President Wennie Sancho said ECs are failing to uphold their cooperative principles, leaving millions of memberconsumer-owners burdened with high electricity rates and little tangible benefit from their contributions. “ECs are ‘co-ops in name...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
MEDICAL NEGLECT?
The Cauayan District Hospital (CDH) denied allegations of medical neglect and lack of oxygen supply in connection with the death of a patient who was critically injured due to a gunshot on New Year’s Day, stating that all actions taken were within...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
FEWER BLASTS
DOH-NIR data showed 105 FWRIs were documented from December 21, 2025 to January 2, 2026 — a 52.6 percent decrease from last year’s 131 cases. Of the number, Negros Occidental logged 75 FWRIs, Negros Oriental had 26, while Bacolod City and Siquijor had...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
DOH-NIR LOGS SPIKE IN FIRECRACKER, ROAD CRASH INJURIES DURING HOLIDAYS
The Department of Health in the Negros Island Region (DOH-NIR) has recorded a significant number of injuries linked to firecrackers and road crashes based on its ongoing holiday surveillance period. DOH-NIR documented 37 fireworks-related injuries and...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
GASATAYA TO SIGN CONTRACT WITH NEW GARBAGE COLLECTOR
Pending the issuance of a notice of award, Mayor Greg Gasataya will formalize an agreement with a new private garbage collector after the Bacolod City council approved his request to sign separate service contracts for the city’s solid waste management...
Read Full Story (Page 2)