Leading the charge is Siquijor, a province in Negros Island that has seen a significant rise in overnight stays. Its 2024 arrivals reached 241,529, surpassing its pre-pandemic total of 168,366.

Heavy rains did not dampen the spirit of the young journalists as they join the opening parade for the Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC) that the province of Siquijor hosted for the first time.

The group Barug Negros ug Siquijor criticizes the setup, arguing that the NIR's implementation is premature given its pending petition with the Supreme Court against the region's creation NEGROS O ...