Community

Mar162026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

30th Sinigayan Fest kicks off, highlights creativity, culture

Sagay City officials led by Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva with Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, DepEd Assistant Secretary Jerome Buenviaje and the Sinigayan Dancers at the opening of the 30th Sinigayan Festival at the Sagay City Public Plaza.*Creativity, education, and cultural identity took center stage during the grand opening of the 30th Sinigayan Festival as Department of Education Assistant Secretary Jerome Buenviaje framed the celebration as a reminder that festivals serve as spaces where communities reconnect with their heritage while nurturing future generations.Speaking on behalf of Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara during the festival opening at the City Public Plaza Monday, March 16, Buenviaje described festivals like Sinigayan as “living classroo...

Mar162026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Filipina Showjumper Sophia Louie Begre Lacson Caps Strong Month with National Championship and Podium Finish at Asia Pacific Rising Star Academy

Community

Sixteen-year-old Negrense showjumper Sophia Louie Begre Lacson delivered an impressive series of performances over the past month, highlighted by a national championship title and an international podium finish, further cementing her reputation as one of the Philippines’ promising young riders.Competing in the Newcomers Division of the Equestrian Association of the Philippines (EAP) National Championship Series, Begre Lacson began her campaign on February 21, 2026, earning second place aboard Ceres during the opening leg of the competition.Shortly after, she traveled abroad to participate in the first leg of the FEI Asia Pacific Rising Star Academy (APRA), held from February 23 to March 1, 2026 in the beautiful Thai Polo and Equestrian Center in Pattaya, Thailand. Riding the le...

Mar152026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

CHIZ-LED HOUSING COMMITTEE CLEARS 35 BILLS

Press Release

The Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing, and Resettlement chaired by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has tackled all 35 bills and resolutions on its agenda, reinforcing his “no backlog” policy in the committees he leads. Among those approved for committee report was Senate Bill No. 934, authored by Senator Jinggoy Estrada, which strengthens the government’s authority to expropriate land for socialized housing. “The measure amends Sections 9, 10, and 11 of the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) of 1992 to empower local government units and housing agencies to identify priority areas, streamline land acquisition, and allow expropriation of idle lands, including residential lands under litigation,” Escudero said, noting that the bill supports the administr...

Mar122026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

MPadilla adopts four-day workweek, energy conservation measures

Press Release

Moises Padilla in Negros Occidental has adopted a four-day onsite workweek and stricter energy conservation measures after Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo issued Executive Order No. 264, Series of 2026.Under the new policy, which takes effect March 16, municipal government offices will operate Monday to Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. completing the required 40-hour workweek within four days, a press release from Moises Padilla said Thursday, March 12.Fridays will serve as an Energy Conservation Day, during which offices will be closed to the public.Despite the revised schedule, the local government assured that public service will remain uninterrupted through its “No Noon Break” policy, with a skeletal workforce assigned to continue operations from 12 p.m.to ...

Mar122026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

NYLI concludes Project REConnect, highlights community solarization gains

Community

The Negrosanon Young Leaders Institute Inc. (NYLI), through its Climate Solutions Center, concluded Project REConnect with a provincial launching and closing program at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol Social Hall om Saturday, March 7.The program presented project results, community impacts, and next steps for sustaining installed solar systems across targeted areas.Project REConnect, supported by the Honnold Foundation, is a community‑based solarization initiative designed to address energy insecurity and support education, livelihoods, and resilience in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) in Negros Occidental. Over the past year, the project provided solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and capacity‑building activities to partner communities...

Mar92026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

CHIZ: STAGGERED WORK-HOUR TO CUSHION IMPACT OF OIL CRISIS, CUT P3.5-B DAILY LOSES DUE TO TRAFFIC

Press Release

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero over the weekend urged private companies to consider adopting Malacañang‑backed four‑day onsite workweek or implement staggered work‑hour schemes as the country aims to cushion the impact of fuel price hikes and broader economic disruptions amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.In a statement, Escudero said such flexible arrangements could help reduce daily transportation demand, lower operating costs, provide workers with added relief as global oil markets remain volatile, as well reduce billions of pesos in lost opportunities every day because of traffic congestion.“Acting this early as we anticipate what could possibly happen would strengthen the country’s resilience should the situation worsen,” the senator said.The veteran legislator ...

Mar62026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Lapus-Lapus–Macaoagao conservation area reopens after Typhoon Tino

Community

The Lapus-Lapus–Macaoagao Local Conservation Area in Sagay City has officially reopened following rehabilitation efforts after Typhoon Tino struck the city last year.The typhoon caused significant damage to coastal facilities, prompting the community to rebuild the area from the ground up, a press release from Sagay City said Friday. March 6..Rehabilitation was made possible through the support of Seacology, an international non-profit organization focused on protecting island habitats and cultures, which donated P600,000 for the Lapus-Lapus site and P270,000 for the initial repair of Suyac Island Mangrove Eco-Park, bringing total assistance to P870,000.Seacology funded the construction of the area’s watchtower, which remained standing even after the typhoon, and supported the ...

Mar52026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Campuestohan Highland Resort wins two awards at DOT Pagdayaw 2025

Community

Campuestohan Highland Resort in Talisay City , Negros Occidental, won two Department of Tourism Pagdayaw 2025 awards at rites held in Iloilo City, Thursday, March 5.The resorts was recognized as a DOT-Accredited Accommodation Establishment for its contribution to excellence in tourism, managing visitor records, ensuring reporting accuracy, and boosting tourism impact.It also received an award for outstanding performance as a Model Tourist Attraction/site in Western Visayas for CY 2024, excelling in same-day visitor recording, reporting completeness, and tourism contribution.Campuestohan Highland Resort founder Ricardo Cano Gwapo Tan was represented by his son Ralph Richard “Siote” Tan in receiving the award from DOT Western Visayas Regional Director Crisanta Marlene P....

Mar52026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Seeds of learning: Garden Club strengthens school program in Bago

Community

The Negros Occidental Garden Club (NOGC), led by President Lope Nonoy Napao and its officers and board of directors, distributed assorted vegetable seed packs to the Ramon Torres Taloc National High School in Taloc, Bago City, as part of its annual Vegetable Seeds Dispersal Initiative.The seeds were formally received by the school’s representatives Emmanuel S. Oreta and Johnny Louie Seva, together with faculty and administrative staff.The donation supports the school’s Gulayan sa Paaralan Program, which promotes food sustainability, environmental awareness and hands-on agricultural learning among students, a press release from the Garden Club said Wednesday, March 4.Napao underscored the importance of the initiative: “Through this program, we are not only planting seeds in the ...

Mar32026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Statement of Sen. Francis Joseph “Chiz” G. Escudero n the Death of Mary Ann de Vera

Press Release

I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Mary Ann de Vera, our kababayan who lost her life amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East. No Filipino should have to pay the ultimate price simply because she sought honest work to provide for her loved ones.In the short term, our government must act with urgency to ensure the safety of every Filipino in the affected regions. This must be our foremost priority. I echo calls for the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Migrant Workers to ensure that contingency and evacuation plans are fully operational, and for the said agencies to provide direct, proactive communication with our OFWs in vulnerable areas.Beyond the immediate crisis, however, lies a deeper, chronic, long-term challenge.For decades, mill...