Daily Guardian

08/06/2026

MORE Electric and Power Corp. and Mabuhay Power Holdings Corp. have broken ground on a PHP 500-million solar farm in Barangay Cag-an, Anilao, Iloilo, marking the first phase of a renewable energy complex planned to exceed 36 megawatts.

The initial 6.6-megawatt facility is expected to be operational by the end of 2026 and will generate more than 13,000 megawatt-hours, or 13 gigawatt-hours, of clean energy annually.

Project proponents said the output can power about 5,416 households based on an average monthly consumption of 200 kilowatt-hours.

The project stems from a power supply agreement signed in July 2025 between MORE Power and Urban Energy Development Corp. for the supply of 6.6 MW of renewable energy.

Mabuhay Power is a subsidiary of UEDC.

Carlo Jose Morales, UEDC chief operating officer, said the Anilao project is only the start of a larger solar development in the area.

“Another solar development will be built right beside this and additionally in close proximity to this site. All in all, we are looking at a total capacity of over 36 MW that would be operating here in Anilao,” Morales said.

The groundbreaking was held June 4 and was attended by MORE Power Vice President Niel Parcon, Mabuhay Power officials, local government leaders, and industry partners.

Morales said the solar farm will help improve energy stability in Iloilo and the wider Visayas grid by adding locally generated renewable power and reducing dependence on fossil fuel-based sources.

“We are currently experiencing frequent, even daily, yellow alerts in the Visayas. This means that the energy reserves are thin based on the demand for power. Fossil fuel-fed generation plants, though some are coming back online, are on outages,” Morales said.

The Visayas grid has faced recurring yellow alerts as electricity demand rises across Panay, Negros, Cebu, Leyte and Bohol, highlighting the need for new generation capacity and more resilient energy infrastructure.

The Anilao facility is also expected to offset around 179,400 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over its estimated 20-year operating life.

Morales said the project will adopt a “local-community centric” approach by creating jobs during construction and operations while supporting economic activity in the host community.

Developers said the solar farm is also projected to generate more than PHP 29 million in government fees and local tax revenues over its lifespan.

The project supports the national government’s target of raising the share of renewable energy in the country’s power mix to 35 percent by 2030.

08/06/2026

The race for the remaining spots in the Elite Junior Finals has reached a thrilling, do-or-die climax for the region’s top young golfers.

BACOLOD City — The race for the remaining spots in the Elite Junior Finals has reached a thrilling, do-or-die climax for the region’s top young golfers. With be

08/06/2026

Police are investigating a possible drug-related motive in the killing of a 41-year-old woman outside the Negros Occidental District Jail in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City, Negros Occidental, on Saturday.

BACOLOD CITY — Police are investigating a possible drug-related motive in the killing of a 41-year-old woman outside the Negros Occidental District Jail in Bara

08/06/2026

WATCH: GenSan airport shaken as quake cancels flight

Social media user Isachar Losbanes shared video from General Santos International Airport after a strong earthquake jolted the city on Monday morning.

“A strong earthquake has just occurred in Gensan. Be safe. God is in control. Flight cancelled today,” Losbanes wrote.

Passengers and airport personnel were seen dealing with the aftermath as authorities continued safety checks following the quake.

Travelers are advised to wait for official announcements from airport authorities and airlines before proceeding with scheduled flights. | Video: Isachar Losbanes

08/06/2026

The Outstanding Students of Iloilo Awards (TOSIA) held its 17th edition May 30, honoring 24 young Ilonggo student leaders at a ceremony at Robinsons Place Pavia.

Read the full story in our comments.

08/06/2026

WATCH: Baligod says 2 witnesses erred in naming Legarda

The lawyer of the 18 former bodyguards and employees of expelled Rep. Zaldy Co said two of his clients admitted they made a mistake in linking Sen. Loren Legarda to alleged suitcase cash deliveries.

Atty. Levito Baligod said the two are ready to face any complaint if Legarda decides to file a case against them.

The admission comes as the credibility of the 18 witnesses faces growing scrutiny after their testimony in the disputed Senate Blue Ribbon hearing on alleged flood control kickbacks.

The group went straight to the office of Sen. Robin Padilla upon arriving at the Senate, where they held a press conference with Baligod.

08/06/2026

Myanmar delivered a commanding 6-1 win over Guam on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in match day two of the Tri-Nation Friendlies hosted by the Philippine Football Federation.

Myanmar delivered a commanding 6-1 win over Guam on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in match day two of the Tri-Nation Friendlies hosted by the Philippin

08/06/2026

LOOK: House prosecutors skip reply, push VP Sara trial

The House prosecution panel said it will no longer file a reply to Vice President Sara Duterte’s answer to the Articles of Impeachment, arguing that further pleadings would only delay the start of the trial.

In a manifestation filed before the Senate Impeachment Court, prosecutors said Duterte’s answer did not require a responsive pleading because it focused largely on procedural, jurisdictional and constitutional objections rather than directly answering the factual allegations in the impeachment case.

The panel said Duterte repeatedly denied committing any impeachable offense but failed to provide a clear factual explanation on the charges.

On the confidential funds allegation, prosecutors said Duterte disputed the legal significance of the charge but did not explain how the funds were actually used.

On the unexplained wealth allegation, they said Duterte challenged the sufficiency of the accusations but did not provide her own accounting of the questioned transactions, assets or wealth.

On the bribery allegation, prosecutors said Duterte called the claims speculative and unsupported but did not present her own version of events.

On the charge involving threats and related acts, they said Duterte rejected the legal characterization but did not directly address the factual assertions behind the allegation.

The prosecution argued that Duterte’s answer was not a genuine response to the charges but an attempt to have the impeachment case dismissed on constitutional and procedural grounds.

The panel said the Constitution and the Senate rules require the case to proceed to trial and be resolved only by conviction or acquittal after a full hearing.

“At this stage, further paper submissions serve only to delay what the Constitution already requires: the immediate commencement of the trial,” the prosecution said.

The next proceeding is scheduled for June 15 for the pretrial conference.

08/06/2026

Three people were reported dead and four others injured in Region 12 after a powerful earthquake struck parts of Mindanao on Monday, according to the Philippine National Police.

PHIVOLCS also confirmed that tsunami waves were recorded following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake off Sarangani.

Winchelle Sevilla of PHIVOLCS said the first wave was monitored at 7:42 a.m. in Maasim and at 7:44 a.m. in Kiamba.

Authorities earlier urged residents in affected coastal communities to move to higher ground or farther inland as tsunami warnings were issued after the quake.

Damage assessments, rescue operations, and safety inspections are continuing in affected areas.

Residents are advised to stay away from shorelines and damaged structures, prepare for aftershocks, and follow official advisories from PHIVOLCS, local disaster offices, and authorities.

08/06/2026

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority said it aims to complete the redevelopment of the Bacolod City Government Center and Heritage Plaza in three to four months.

BACOLOD CITY — The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority said it aims to complete the redevelopment of the Bacolod City Government Center and Her