Community

Oct112026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Kanlaon eruption sends 5 to 6 km plume with ashfall, sulfur odor reported in Negros Occidental

Sped-up camera footages of ash emission from Kanlaon Volcano shows that it generated a grayish plume that rose 600 meters above the summit crater before drifting general west, early morning of Oct. 11.*/Screengrab from PHILVOLCSA moderately explosive eruption of Kanlaon Volcano sent a volcanic plume as high as six kilometers above the summit, with ashfall, sulfur odor, booming sounds and ground shaking reported in parts of Negros Occidental on Saturday, Oct. 10.The eruption occurred from about 12:46 p.m. to 12:48 p.m., according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. The plume drifted north-northeast.The Office of Civil Defense-Negros Island Region said initial reports from Bago City indicated a visible volcanic cloud, booming sounds and ground sha...

Oct112026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

9 Bacolod health centers accredited under PhilHealth YAKAP

Community, Top Stories

Nine health facilities in Bacolod City have been accredited under PhilHealth’s Yaman ng Kalusugan Program or YAKAP, expanding access to primary healthcare services in the barangays.Bacolod Lone District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez announced on Oct. 9 the accreditation of the facilities, saying it will bring consultations, laboratory services and essential medicines closer to residents.The newly accredited facilities are the Alijis, Banago, Bata, Handumanan, Pahanocoy, Singcang, Taculing and Villamonte barangay health stations, as well as the Senior Citizen Center at the Bacolod City Government Center Annex.Under PhilHealth YAKAP, members and their dependents may access primary care services through accredited clinics, including consultations, selected laboratory exami...

Oct92026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

CLMMRH cites hospital operations reforms after national DOH recognition

Community, Press Release, Top Stories

Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital highlighted its continuing reforms in hospital operations and management during the Integrated Hospital Operations and Management Program Conference 2026 held in Cebu City from Sept. 21 to 25.In a press release on Oct. 9, the Bacolod-based regional hospital represented the Negros Island Region at the conference, which carried the theme, “Transforming Hospital System through Quality, Equity, and Innovation.”CLMMRH had earlier been recognized by the Department of Health as the second-highest-rated Integrated Hospital Operations Management Standard Compliance awardee for 2025.The recognition was based on the hospital’s compliance with standards covering quality, patient safety and systematic hospital management.John Michael...

Oct92026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Negros Occidental logs 3,732 dengue cases, 20 deaths

Community, Top Stories

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...