Mary Judaline Partlow

Negros Oriental's inflation rate in 2024 slowed down despite the looming threat of a major eruption of Mt. Kanlaon, an official from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Friday, Jan. 17.Engr. Ariel Fortuito, PSA-Negros Oriental chief statistical specialist, highlighted that the slowdown in inflation last year reflects the effectiveness of government efforts to manage price stability.“Last year was a better year compared to 2023,” Fortuito said during a press conference, noting the significant improvement in inflation trends.PSA data showed December 2024’s headline inflation slightly rose to 1.0 percent from 0.9 percent in November. He, however, noted a dramatic drop from December 2023's 5.6 percent.The average inflation rate for 2024 settled at 3.2 percent, with M...

The accident in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental on Friday.*NOPPO photo Ten people were hurt when a tricycle they were riding collided with a delivery van in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, on Friday morning, Jan. 17.Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson for the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO), said the injured – the tricycle driver and his nine passengers, including six students, a four-year-old boy and two workers, were taken to a hospital.Initial investigation revealed that the tricycle was traveling from Barangay Hibaiyo toward the city proper when it attempted to overtake another tricycle, and collided with a Hino 300 refrigerated delivery van.The van, driven by a 39-year-old businessman en route to Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, did not sustain ...

A grayish plume can be seen from the Kanlaon Volcano summit crater as recorded around 9:15 a.m. on Thursday*Screengrab from Negros Oriental PDRRMO videoMt. Kanlaon has recorded more than 100 minor eruptions, or ash emissions, since October last year, a Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) official, said on Thursday, Jan. 16,.Mariton Bornas, head of Phivolcs’ Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division, reported that 117 ash emissions have occurred since Oct. 19.“In volcanology, these ash emissions are technically classified as minor eruptions, as an eruption involves the release of volcanic materials from a crater,” Bornas said.She said that if Mt. Kanlaon’s unrest intensifies, it would be categorized as one extended eruptive series beginn...

 Police authorities are monitoring entry and exit points in the province to prevent entry of armed men as the election period begins.*PNA/Mary Judaline Flores Partlow photoAuthorities in Negros Oriental province are keeping tabs on remnants of a dismantled private armed group (PAG) who may return for the May elections or for personal reasons, an official said on Wednesday, Jan 15.Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson for the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO), revealed that at least six members of the disbanded group are believed to have fled to another part of the island after their operations were shut down years ago.These individuals are wanted for their alleged involvement in shooting incidents, including some that were election-related, Polinar said.They...

Brig. Gen. Joey Escanillas, commander of the 302nd Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental.*PNA/Mary Judaline F. Partlow photoThe New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, no longer poses a threat to the conduct of the May 12 midterm elections, an Army official said on Monday, Jan. 14.Brig. Gen. Joey Escanillas, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, said all three guerilla fronts of the NPA in Negros Island have been dismantled and “we see no serious threat from the CTGs (communist terrorist groups).”While some NPA remnants are still active, recent military engagements in November and January led to the deaths of nine suspected rebels, forcing the insurgents into a defensive stance, especially in Negros Oriental....

Police and military personnel conduct a joint Comelec-PNP-AFP checkpoint in downtown Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, during the 2022 election period.*PNA/ Mary Judaline Partlow photoSecurity checkpoints for the upcoming election period will enforce not only the election gun ban but also violations of national laws and local ordinances, a police official said Thursday, Jan. 9.Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson for the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO), confirmed that the checkpoints, set to begin Sunday, will be manned by police, Army personnel, and representatives from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).These checkpoints will cover a range of violations, including traffic and election-related offenses.The official start of the election period will be marke...

An evacuation drill in Canlaon City.*Salta Canlaon photoCanlaon City in Negros Oriental province has ramped up its disaster preparedness efforts by testing a newly implemented siren system designed to warn residents and evacuees of life-threatening volcanic activity from Mt. Kanlaon.The siren system, tested this week alongside simulations for an Alert Level 4 evacuation, plays a crucial role in the city’s readiness strategy, Edna Lhou Masicampo, the city’s information officer-designate, said on Thursday, Jan. 9.“The siren is more than just a warning; it’s a life-saving guide,” she said, adding that each duration is coded to provide clear, actionable instructions for residents and evacuees.A two-minute siren alerts authorized individuals working within the 6-km Permanent Dan...

Commission on Elections-Negros Island Regional Executive Director Lionel Marco Castillano.*PNA/ Mary Judaline Flores Partlow photoThe Commission on Elections (Comelec) sees Negros Oriental to be likely categorized as an “orange” election area of concern for the upcoming May 12 midterm elections.Regional Election Director Lionel Marco Castillano of the Comelec-Negros Island Region (NIR) said on Wednesday, Jan. 8, that given the province's history of election-related violence and intense political rivalry, Negros Oriental would “definitely not be placed under the green category,” which signifies areas with no security concerns.During the October 2024 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, Negros Oriental was placed under Comelec control due to incidents linked to the March...

DOH-NIR Regional Director Razel Nikka Hao and  Negros Oriental Governor  Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria  (2nd and 3rd from left) at a press conference on Wednesday*  PNA/ Mary Judaline Flores Partlow photoThe Department of Health in the Negros Island Region (DOH-NIR) outlined its priorities as it formally established its regional office in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.DOH-NIR Regional Director Razel Nikka Hao emphasized during a press conference on Wednesday, Jan. 8, that the primary goal is enhancing access to healthcare services across the region, which includes Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and Siquijor.“We need to make sure that there are primary care facilities and hospitals around the region,” Hao said.Hao added that they will equip the hospitals to become Level ...

Evacuees are seen outside a government facility in Canlaon City.*Thousands of evacuees from high-risk areas in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, cannot return home yet due to the unrest at Mt. Kanlaon, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) 6 (Western Visayas) said Tuesday.OCD-6 Director Raul Fernandez, Task Force Kanlaon chairman, said the move prioritizes safety.“It is not yet safe considering the volcano continues to manifest magmatic activities," he said during a Canlaon City press briefing. "There’s always a first time for a major eruption and we don’t want you to be victims.”He cited Mt. Pinatubo’s eruption and the succeeding lahar flow, which caused deaths and injuries.Fernandez said pyroclastic materials from a major eruption could cover a radius of 14 km. or more....