Community

. Agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in southern Negros Occidental show their certificates of condonation with release of mortgage in a ceremony held at the Isabela Municipal Gymnasium on Thursday.*DAR NIR photo The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has granted debt relief amounting to PHP6.65 billion to 44,643 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and turned over PHP95.5 million in support services to various ARB organizations (ARBOs) in southern Negros Occidental on Thursday, July 9.This was the second leg of DAR-Negros Island Region’s (NIR) three‑day distribution series dubbed “Padayon” (to continue or to carry on), after the distribution to ARBs in northern Negros Occidental in Cadiz City on Wednesday.In a ceremony held at the Isabela Municipal Gymnasium, Undersecretary ...

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II *New classrooms will soon be constructed across eight Department of Education (DepEd) campuses in Negros Occidental.Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II announced the development on his Facebook page on Thursday, July  9."Good news for our beloved Negrense learners. New classrooms will be constructed in your campuses," Diaz said.He said the new school buildings will be built at the following locations:Don E. Bilbao Elementary School (Hinoba-an)Mainit Elementary School (Toboso)Ma-init Elementary School (Cauayan)Bunga Integrated School (Don Salvador Benedicto)Laga-an Elementary School (Calatrava)Medina Integrated School (San Carlos City)Iliranan Integrated School (San Carlos City)Salamanca ...

The 601 barangays in Negros Occidental are set to receive a total of PHP120.2 million in financial assistance under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Bawat Barangay Makikinabang Program.Every barangay is allotted PHP200,000, half of which, or PHP100,000, will be used for educational aid of presidential scholars, with five students set to receive PHP20,000 each.Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II, who showed the check in a Facebook post Tuesday night, said Board Member Richard Julius Sablan, representative of the Liga ng Mga Barangay, and Provincial Treasurer Amy Grace Ofamin Bolivar claimed and facilitated the release of the check from the Office of the Executive Secretary.“We support barangay development all the way,” Diaz said.By Wednesday, village officials can ...

 The Department of Social Welfare and Development's Project LAWA at BINHI partner-beneficiaries in Candoni, Negros Occidental, receive cash assistance.*DSWD photoThe Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has released a total of PHP17.442 million in cash assistance to partner-beneficiaries under the Project LAWA at BINHI in five local government units (LGUs) across Negros Occidental.Data of the DSWD-Negros Island Region (NIR) on Tuesday showed the amount was paid to 1,700 recipients who received PHP10,260 each after completing the 20-day cash-for-work and cash-for-training program in the last week of June.“This combines temporary employment with capacity-building activities designed to strengthen community resilience, climate change adaptation, and sustainable reso...

Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU) said it proudly supports Khent Benedict Balulot, a 3rd-year Computer Engineering student, for earning the distinct honor of representing the Philippines at the World of Dance Summit 2026, currently taking place in Anaheim, California from Tuesday to Friday, July 7 to 10."Khent’s achievement is a testament to his exceptional balance of academic excellence and artistic passion. A consistent honor student, he has received numerous local and national recognitions in his field of study", a press release  from CHMSU  said Tuesday.Outside the classroom, he has channeled his creativity and discipline into the performing arts as an active member of VMDT (Vicentinian Maraynon Dagyaw Theatre), where he has distinguished himself as both a dedicat...

Sagay City is considering an ordinance that would institutionalize the annual Sagaynon Family Week every third week of September to strengthen family relationships, expand access to support services, and recognize the role of families in community development.Draft Ordinance No. 2026-017, authored by SP Member Lura Javelosa, chairperson of the Committee on Women, Children, and Family, will be known as the “Pamilya Nga Malig-on, Syudad Nga Mainuswagon Ordinance.”Javelosa and members of the city government team met with Mayor Leo Rafael “Bebo” M. Cueva at the Vice Mayor’s Office on July 1 to discuss the proposed measure, a press release from Sagay City said Monday,  July 6.The ordinance seeks to promote responsible parenthood, child protection, family safety, mental health a...

In a display of multi-sectoral collaboration the Association of Negros Producers, Inc. (ANP), in partnership with the Negros Occidental provincial government and various stakeholders, spearheaded a comprehensive community development activity in Barangay Puey, Sagay City, Friday, July 3.The initiative is part of the Gender and Development (GAD) project titled “Entrepreneurial Support and  Value Formation for Vulnerable Areas, Indigenous People and Community-Based Organizations,” under Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, a press release from ANP said.Barangay Puey serves as the vital community partner for this sustainable development rollout.The day-long activity addressed education, emergency response, health, agriculture, and infrastructure through several key tur...

A garbage compactor truck in Victorias City.*Victorias PIO file photoVictorias City will only deliver one compactor truck of residual waste per month to Bacolod City’s sanitary landfill if granted permission by the host government, its environment officer said Friday, July 3.While  documents state a maximum allowance of 30 cubic meters of residual waste a month, actual deliveries will not reach that amount, Lara Ann Garcia, officer-in-charge of the Victorias City Environment and Natural Resources Office, said.The residual waste they will deliver to Bacolod will just be one mid-sized compactor truck—with a capacity of six to eight cubic meters—once a month, Garcia said.She clarified that this arrangement would only be temporary until the Victorias sanitary landfill bec...

Mayor Greg Gasataya led the opening of G-Hive, a new hub for the local creative industry and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), at the Mansilingan Activity Center (MAC) in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, on Monday, June 29.The facility is designed for graphic artists, designers, animators, game developers, fashion designers, and MSMEs, a press release  from the Bacolod City Communications Office said. It features four core components - a Foundry available to multimedia artists free of charge; a Studio for filmmakers and videographers; an Academy providing specialized training for MSMEs and dressmakers; and a Gallery showcasing high-value MSME products, artworks, and creative innovations."Finding a space was a bit of a challenge until the barangay approv...

The Negros Occidental Garden Club (NOGC) conducted its annual mangrove planting activity on Tuesday at Purok Batad, Barangay Sampinit in Bago City.The initiative was led by NOGC President Nonoy Napao, alongside the organization’s officers, board of directors, and members.Technical guidance and logistical support were provided by Rex Magbanua, Bantay Katunggan Coordinator of the Bago City Environment Management Office, along with local Bantay Katunggan personnel to ensure the proper planting of mangrove propagules along the shoreline, a press release from NOGC said."This initiative, first launched in 2019 under the leadership of the late former president Nenita Estrella, has grown into a lasting commitment," Napao said."Today, we were delighted to see how mangroves planted s...