Watchmen Daily Journal
‘On-air rape joke a serious breach of media ethics’
A local radio broadcaster’s remarks allegedly trivializing rape and violence against women went viral and sparked public backlash, drawing strong condemnation from women’s groups, press organizations, lawmakers, and a national government task...
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EXTREME WEATHER, FEWER SCHOOL DAYS
Public schools in the Negros Island Region (NIR) lost a total of 19 school days due to class suspensions linked to climate-related events in a three-month period last year, data from the Department of Education during the Second Congressional...
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INSURGENCY TEARS FAMILIES APART
Many young people eventually become estranged from their families once they start as activists or members of advocacy groups to become armed operatives, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said, raising concern...
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NTF-ELCAC alarmed over youth ‘terror grooming’
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) renewed its warning against alleged communist rebel recruitment among the youth following the death of former student leader Vince Francis Dingding during an armed encounter in...
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5 ‘REBELS’ KILLED IN CLASH ANEW
A timely tip from residents led to a series of armed encounters that resulted in the neutralization of five alleged remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA) South West Front at Barangay Abaca in Negros Occidental’s Cauayan town on Saturday, May...
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‘STAGED’ GUNFIRE TO ADVANCE INTERESTS?
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson condemned the chaotic incident and reported gunfire inside the Senate during the tense standoff involving Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, describing the situation as “embarrassing and shameful” for the...
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Senator calls for full probe into Senate shooting scare
A senator called for a full and independent investigation into the shooting incident that occurred at the Senate on Wednesday night, May 13, saying the violence stemmed from Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s refusal to face legal proceedings tied to a...
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LOWER OUTPUT, HIGHER PRICES
The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said sugar production for the next crop year is expected to decline by seven to nine percent but expressed hope that mill gate prices will improve due to the current oversupply of raw sugar.
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Cop dies, 2 others hurt in buy-bust
A 38-year-old police officer was killed while two others were injured during a buy-bust operation against an alleged street-level drug personality at Barangay Talaptap in Negros Occidental’s La Castellana town late Monday night, May 11. Police Master...
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Lacson backs airport expansion, convention center push in Silay
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has expressed support for major infrastructure projects being proposed in Silay City, saying these developments could strengthen tourism and investment in Negros Occidental. Among the projects being...
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Benitez withdraws call for Toboso clash inquiry
Negros Occidental 3rd District Representative Javi Benitez said he will no longer push for a congressional inquiry into the April 19 encounter in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town that left 19 people dead, saying ongoing investigations by proper...
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‘Negros 19’ autopsy findings challenge military claims
Autopsy findings on the 19 individuals killed in a military operation in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town, including two Filipino-Americans, have raised questions over the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) claim that the incident was a legitimate...
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Elderly woman dies in fire after letting husband save himself
A 79-year-old woman died after reportedly letting her husband escape a residential fire that razed several homes at Purok Maanyag 2 in Bacolod City’s Barangay Alijis on Tuesday night, May 6. Rosa Magbanua allowed her husband, 62-year-old Jose...
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NegOcc sustainable energy framework drives renewable push
Bringing reliable, affordable and sustainable energy to small communities is at the heart of Negros Occidental’s energy transition, as the province advances its energy framework for 2030 alongside the Renewable Energy Week Expo 2026 set for May 7 to...
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‘NO CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP’
The United Sugar Producers Federation (Unifed) and the Luzon Federation of Sugarcane Growers Association (LuzonFed) expressed full confidence in the board led by Agriculture Secretary Francisco TiuLaurel, Jr. and SRA Administrator Pablo Luis...
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Army, ‘NPA’ clash anew in Cauayan
Government troops clashed with suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) at Barangay Masaling in Negros Occidental’s Cauayan town early yesterday morning, the Philippine Army said. Lt. Colonel Dennis Martinez, commanding officer of the 47th...
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32 groups call for justice in Toboso clash deaths
A coalition composed of 32 civil society and church organizations has called for justice, transparency and lasting peace following the deaths of 19 individuals in a violent encounter in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town on April 19, as the national...
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WORKERS’ BURDEN: MAKING ENDS MEET
A local workers’ group marked Labor Day with a sharp critique of government leadership, saying the annual celebration has lost its meaning for ordinary workers amid rising prices, stagnant wages and alleged corruption.
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Visayan power grid under ‘low reserves’: ACCESS
The Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services (ACCESS) has raised alarm over what it describes as a “converging storm” threatening power stability in the Visayas, citing thin supply reserves and escalating global oil risks as...
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19 DEATHS A ‘MASSACRE’
A wildfire continues to spread within Kanlaon Volcano’s permanent danger zone (PDZ), affecting more than 100 hectares of forestland, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said. The grass fire, which started around 10:00 a.m. on...
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9 KILLED IN CLASH WERE CIVILIANS, NPA INSISTS
The New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Island has asserted that not all those killed in the encounter at Barangay Salamanca in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town on April 19 were armed combatants, claiming that nine civilians were among the fatalities. In...
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ARMY OPEN TO CHR PROBE INTO CLASH
The Philippine Army has expressed readiness to cooperate with an investigation by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) into the April 19 military operation in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town that left 19 people dead. Army spokesperson Colonel Louie...
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30 nabbed in ‘e-sabong’ raid
Authorities arrested 30 individuals and dismantled a suspected illegal online cockfighting or “e-sabong” operation during a joint law enforcement raid at Barangay Concepcion in Negros Occidental’s Talisay City. The operation, led by the Criminal...
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Fil-Am among killed in Toboso clash
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has expressed condolences following the reported death of an American citizen of Filipino descent during an armed encounter in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town on Sunday, April...
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INSURGENTS OR CIVILIANS?
The rest [of the victims] were civilians documenting a peasant activity, standing alongside farmers who are consistently pushed to the margins by land-grabbing and systemic neglect. Why are they at the encounter site, armed and shooting at...
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NO TAX RAPS EXPECTED?
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has confirmed it cannot file tax violation charges against suspects arrested in recent raids on warehouses where alleged smuggled cigarettes were discovered in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental’s Bago City due to...
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RETURN TO FOLD OF LAW
The Diocese of San Carlos has issued a pastoral statement expressing deep sorrow and renewed calls for peace following a recent armed encounter in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town between government security forces and suspected members of the New...
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TROOPS KILL NPA HITMAN
A suspected hitman of the New People’s Army (NPA) identified as Roger Fabillar, also known as “Jhong” and “Arnel Tapang,” was among 19 alleged rebels killed in a series of armed encounters with government troops at Barangay Salamanca in Negros...
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P12.8-B LOSSES FLAGGED
The resolution directs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into concerns raised by industry stakeholders over excessive sugar imports and possible mismanagement within the Sugar...
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Bacolod energy efficiency practices get DOE nod
The Bacolod City government has been rated highly compliant by the Department of Energy (DOE) with the Government Energy Management Program (GEMP). The observation was based on the spot check conducted by the team from the DOE - Visayas led by...
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Transport group dismayed over low turnout in strike
Transport group Bacolod Alliance for Commuters, Operators and Drivers (BACOD) - Manibela expressed disappointment over the lack of support from various sectors during a protest rally and transport strike in Bacolod City yesterday. In an interview,...
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RELEASE SUGAR ORDER MINUTES
In a statement, the council supported the call of the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines - Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (Nacusip-TUCP) for the release of the minutes of Sugar Board meetings, especially those...
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BEYOND CONTROL GROUP SEES POWER RATE HIKE ‘UNAVOIDABLE’
In an advisory, ACCESS said the ongoing geopolitical tensions are driving up fuel costs, which in turn push electricity prices higher. ACCESS President Wennie Sancho warned that consumers should prepare for the impact, noting that government efforts...
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FESTIVAL OF FESTIVALS
Nearly 900 security personnel from the Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region will ensure peace and order during the 30th Panaad sa Negros Festival, which will kick off today, April 13, 2026.
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NO TAX BURDEN
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said the reassessment of property values is mandated under Republic Act No. 12001, which seeks to modernize and standardize real property valuation nationwide. Diaz explained that provincial, city and...
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LABOR GROUP WARNS OF POWER RATE HIKE AMID OIL PRICE SURGE
Consumers may soon face higher electricity bills as global oil prices continue to climb due to tensions in the Middle East, a consumer advocacy group said. In a press statement, the Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services...
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1,500 NIR police to secure Araw ng Kagitingan
The Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) will deploy nearly 1,500 personnel across the region to ensure a safe and orderly observance of Araw ng Kagitingan today. The large-scale security operation will cover key areas of...
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Fuel subsidy payout for tricycle drivers begins
The distribution of fuel subsidies and cash assistance for qualified tricycle drivers in Bacolod City will start today until Friday, April 10, led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in coordination with the city government. The...
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Gun ban imposed for Panaad Festival security
A temporary suspension of permits to carry firearms outside residences will be enforced in Bacolod City from April 13 to 19 as authorities tighten security for the 30th Panaad sa Negros Festival. The directive, issued by the Philippine National Police...
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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.
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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‘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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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....
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