Community

Oct92026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Negros Occidental logs 3,732 dengue cases, 20 deaths

Negros Occidental recorded 3,732 dengue cases and 19 dengue-related deaths from Jan. 4 to Oct. 3, according to the Provincial Health Office.The Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit said dengue cases were 24.7 percent lower than the 4,956 cases recorded during the same period in 2025, or 1,224 fewer cases.However, Provincial Health Officer I Dr. Ayessa Hugtanan said the number of dengue-related deaths had already risen to 20 as of Oct. 18.All 31 local government units in the province have reported at least one suspected dengue case.La Carlota City registered the highest number of cases at 679, with two deaths.It was followed by Silay City with 365 cases and one death, Bago City with 306 cases and two deaths, Cauayan with 206 cases and one death, and San Carlos C...

Oct92026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

MassKara enters 10-day stretch with nearly 50 events across Bacolod

Community, Lifestyle, Press Release, Top Stories

MassKara Festival 2026 enters its busiest stretch from Oct. 9 to 18, with nearly 50 major activities lined up across multiple venues in Bacolod City.The Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc. said the “10-Day MassKara High” will feature competitions, cultural programs, pageants, sports events, concerts, community activities, tourism programs and brand activations.Events will be held at the Bacolod Public Plaza, Bacolod Government Center, SM City Bacolod, Robinsons Bacolod, Megaworld The Upper East, SMX Bacolod, the Lacson Tourism Strip and other partner venues.The 10-day run begins Friday, Oct. 9, with MassKareppin Elimination 2, Miss Bacolod MassKara Corporate Day, MassKarap Battle, GSM Ginuman and the Choreographers Showdown.PetsKara, the Drum and Lyre Corps Competition and Manuli...

Oct92026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Man linked to Bacolod telecom theft incidents arrested

Community, Police, Top Stories

A man allegedly linked to several theft incidents involving telecommunications facilities in Bacolod City was arrested during a police operation on Wednesday, Oct. 7, Globe Telecom’s Security and Response Unit said.Globe identified the arrested man as alias “Buriring.”The company said his arrest followed months of surveillance, monitoring and coordination between its security unit and the Philippine National Police.He is currently detained in Bacolod, Globe said.According to Globe, two suspects previously arrested in separate investigations allegedly identified him as being involved in theft incidents affecting Globe, FTAP and PTCI telecommunications sites in the city.The company said the suspect had also been included in a criminal case previously filed by its Security...

Oct92026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Himamaylan weavers get more time to work as solar lights brighten their nights

Community, Top Stories

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines — As darkness falls over a mountain community in Himamaylan City, fifteen (15) tikog weavers can now keep working long after daylight fades, with solar-powered lights giving them more time to weave.The beneficiaries, members of the Madaja Handweavers Association (MAHAWA), are from Sitio Madaja in Barangay Buenavista, where each of the 15 weavers received a 120-watt solar power setup on Tuesday, October 6.The team also provided a separate solar power setup to Madaja Elementary School.For the weavers, the intervention addresses a simple but practical limitation: weaving once depended largely on daylight.With their new solar systems, they can now continue working on their tikog products at night.Anabelle Hermino, one of the beneficiary-weaver...

Oct82026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Casino Plus brings ‘Hataw MassKara’ to Bacolod as official presenter of MassKara Festival 2026; Zeinab, Moonstar88, Baby Dolls to headline 3-day concert

Press Release, Top Stories

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, 05 OCTOBER 2026 — Casino Plus, one of the Philippines’ leading PAGCOR-licensed digital entertainment platforms, is bringing its signature brand of entertainment to the MassKara Festival 2026 as the festival’s official presenter, with a packed lineup of activities culminating in a three-day concert featuring Zeinab Harake Parks, Moonstar88, and Showtime’s Baby Dolls.Casino Plus’ Hataw MassKara runs from October 1 to 18, bringing together entertainment, interactive experiences, local talent, and festival activities across key areas of Bacolod City. The gaming platform will work hand in hand with the Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc., the official organizer of this year’s Masskara Festival.Casino Plus Head of Branding Roj Tirona and Branding Senior Supervi...

Oct82026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Sugar order classifies 100 percent of country’s sugar for domestic market: SRA

Business, Community, Top Stories

The Sugar Board has approved Sugar Order No. 1 classifying 100 percent of the country’s sugar production for Crop Year 2026-2027 as “B" or Domestic Market Sugar.*/Ronnie Baldonado photoThe Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) announced Thursday, Oct. 8, that the Sugar Board has approved Sugar Order No. 1 classifying 100 percent of the country’s sugar production for Crop Year 2026-2027 as “B" or Domestic Market Sugar.SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona in an advisory informed all sugar industry stakeholders that the allocation was in accordance with a consensus reached during a stakeholders consultative meeting in Makati City on October 2.Accordingly, all sugar mills, planters, traders, and other concerned parties are hereby advised and directed to ensure that all l...

Oct82026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Globe reports 1,245 cable theft cases, seeks stronger action to protect telecom networks

Business, Community, Press Release, Top Stories

Globe Telecom and its tower company partners recorded 1,245 cases of cable and telecommunications equipment theft as of September 2026, prompting the company to call for stronger government and community action against infrastructure pilferage.In a press release, Globe said the incidents have caused service outages nationwide and disrupted mobile and data connectivity used for work, education, business, emergency communications and other digital services.The company warned that repeated theft also affects investments intended to improve network coverage, quality and resilience.Globe general counsel Froilan Castelo said the issue has gone beyond stolen equipment because damage to telecommunications facilities can cut off communities from essential services.“When critical tel...

Oct82026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Robinsons Land, Bacolod City partner on public spaces, tourism projects

Community, Press Release, Top Stories

Robinsons Land Corp. has partnered with the Bacolod City government on a series of initiatives aimed at improving public spaces, mobility and tourism while creating livelihood and community opportunities for residents, Oct. 8.In a press release, the partnership will serve as the first local initiative under Robinsons Land’s “Hand in Hand for Progress” community development platform, which brings together local governments, businesses, institutions and communities for joint projects.Among the planned initiatives are greener public spaces, improved transport stops and clearer wayfinding systems intended to make it easier for residents and visitors to move around Bacolod and reach heritage sites, food destinations and local businesses.Robinsons Land said the partnership will also ...

Oct82026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Cadiz gets P78.9M peace, rural development projects

Community, Press Release, Top Stories

Cadiz City is set to receive P78.9 million worth of infrastructure and community projects from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) to support former rebels and improve access in rural and upland communities.The Kapatiran Multi-Purpose Center in Sitio Huebesan and road project in Sitio 19A both in Barangay Celestino Villacin, Cadiz City, set to be turned over by OPAPRU to the city government, Oct. 9.*/Bilis Cadiz photoThe projects will be formally turned over on Friday, Oct. 9, with OPAPRU Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento expected to attend the ceremony at the Cadiz Arena.The package includes a P26-million concrete road, grouted riprap and storm drainage project from Brgy. Celestino Villacin proper to Sitio 19A.Another P30-million ...

Oct82026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Climate group urges coal-free solutions to Visayas power crisis

Community

The Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE) has urged government to address the Visayas power crisis without abandoning Negros Occidental’s coal-free policy, calling instead for renewable energy, battery storage and stronger grid infrastructure.In a statement following the Oct. 3 joint congressional hearing on the Visayas power situation in Bacolod City, NICE welcomed what it described as Energy Secretary Sharon Garin’s assurance that the government has no plans to establish a coal-fired power plant in Negros.The hearing was conducted by the House committees on Energy, Visayas Development and Legislative Franchises to investigate recurring grid alerts, rotational brownouts, generation shortages and transmission constraints affecting the Visayas. During...