Community

Sep302026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

P100M dialysis center opens at Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital

A P100-million hemodialysis center offering free dialysis services to patients has opened at the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital (NOPH) in Dumaguete City.Gov. Manuel Sagarbarria led the inauguration and blessing of the NOPH Dialysis Center on Tuesday, Sept. 29, before the facility began receiving its first patients.The center currently has 12 dialysis machines, with the number expected to increase to 25 by October.Another 25 machines are planned for the second floor of the facility next year, which would bring its total capacity to 50 dialysis machines.Sagarbarria said the dialysis center was one of his administration’s flagship projects and was intended to make renal care more accessible to Negros Oriental residents.The provincial government said patients will ...

Sep302026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Negros Oriental returns to 4-day workweek amid rising fuel, energy costs

Business, Community, Negros Oriental, Top Stories

The Negros Oriental provincial government has reimplemented a four-day compressed workweek as a temporary energy conservation and cost-saving measure amid renewed increases in fuel prices and continuing energy cost volatility.Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria issued Executive Order No. 58, Series of 2026, which took effect Monday, Sept. 28.Under the arrangement, covered provincial government employees will report onsite from Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break from noon to 1 p.m.Employees will work 10 hours a day to complete the required 40-hour workweek, while Friday will generally be designated as a non-working day subject to service requirements.Job order and contract of service personnel will follow the same compressed schedule without re...

Sep302026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

15 women to represent Bacolod barangays in Miss MassKara 2026

Community, Lifestyle, Top Stories

Fifteen women will represent 15 barangays in Miss Bacolod MassKara 2026 as the pageant introduces a community-based format and puts a “Celebration of Women” at the center of this year’s competition.The Bacolod Gugma Foundation, organizer of the MassKara Festival 2026, said on Wednesday, Sept. 30, that this will be the first time candidates will officially represent barangays in the pageant.The candidates are Aleyssa Dionio of Alijis, Hannah Damasco of Brgy. 29, Margarette Ymballa of Taculing, Jasper Anne Lucero of Mandalagan, Ma. Zonora Ellyssa Curaza of Sum-ag, Eurica Cielo Abarro of Estefania, Ashley Nicole Andrade of Granada;Jeaven Icy Musni of Tangub, Julie Mikayla Borja of Mansilingan, Lourdeth Codico of Bata, Macy Alaine Albarico of Singcang, Daniella Louisse Merelos of B...

Sep292026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Bacolod public plaza to host MassKara competitions, community events Oct. 9 to 16

Community, Top Stories

Bacolod City’s public plaza will host a series of competitions and community activities from Oct. 9 to 16 as part of the MassKara Festival 2026, featuring local dancers, student performers, market vendors and representatives of various sectors.The Bacolod Gugma Foundation announced on Tuesday, Sept. 29, that the activities will be held under the festival theme “Share The Smile. Celebrate Gugma.”Situation at Bacolod City Public Plaza days before the soft opening of 47th MassKara Festival.The plaza events will begin on Oct. 9 with the Choreographers Face Off, featuring homegrown dance talents representing different barangays in Bacolod.Elementary and high school students will compete in the Inter-School Drum and Lyre Corps Competition on Oct. 10, with nine elementary schools...

Sep292026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Bacolod council seeks funding for social pension of first 1,000 qualified PWDs

Community, Top Stories

The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod has approved a resolution urging the city government to begin implementing its social pension program for persons with disabilities (PWDs), starting with at least 1,000 qualified beneficiaries already identified by barangay screening committees.In a press release on Sept. 29, it said the resolution, authored by Councilors Caesar Distrito and Celia Flor, calls on the City Social Services and Development Department (DSSD) and the City Budget Office, through Mayor Greg Gasataya, to provide the funding needed to implement the program.Distrito said the city could begin releasing assistance to the first 1,000 qualified PWDs while working toward the inclusion of more beneficiaries as additional funds become availableThe program was established un...

Sep292026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Bacolod extends free rides as transport strike enters second day

Business, Community, Top Stories

Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya (3rd from Left) is joined by City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu (right) and City Administrator Atty. Mark Steven Mayo (second from right) during a meeting with local transport leaders on Monday, Sept. 28.Bacolod City will continue providing free rides to commuters on Tuesday, Sept. 29, as a nationwide three-day transport strike over rising fuel prices enters its second day.Mayor Greg Gasataya directed the City Administrator’s Office and City Engineer’s Office to continue the city’s Libre Sakay operations following a meeting with transport leaders on Monday, Sept. 28.Free rides will be available at designated pickup points in Bata near the Mormons Church, Alijis at the Circumferential Road crossing near 7-Eleven, Handumanan at the barangay gym...

Sep282026 by Shiela Gelera-BragaNo Comments

Backrider sang motor patay matapos malapakan sang mixer

Balita Hiligaynon, Classified Ads

Naga-angkas sa motorsiklo ang 48-anyos nga babaye sang sila ang nabungguan sang mixer truck sa dalan Araneta, sakop sang Barangay Tangub sa Bacolod City, Sabado sang hapon.Natumba ang Honda ADV nga ginamaneho ni alyas “Joan”, 39-anyos, taga Zamboanga kag nagtabog ang iya angkas nga si alyas “Nemesia”, residente sang Canlaon City.Didto kag nalapakan sang mixer truck si alyas “Nemesia” nga amo ang gintunaan sang iya kamatayon.Temporaryo nga gin-detain sa custodial facility sang Station 8 ang driver sang mixer truck nga si alyas “Remy” nga taga Talisay City sa Negros Occidental.

Sep272026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Negros Oriental, Siquijor workers to get P42 daily wage hike starting Oct. 14

Business, Community, Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Minimum wage earners in Negros Oriental and Siquijor will receive a P42 daily wage increase starting Oct. 14, 2026, under a wage adjustment approved for private sector workers covered by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) VII.Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino announced the increase on Saturday, Sept. 26, saying it is equivalent to an additional P1,092 a month.The wage adjustment also covers Cebu and Bohol, with the Department of Labor and Employment estimating that 337,476 workers across the four provinces will benefit.Although Negros Oriental and Siquijor are part of the Negros Island Region (NIR), they remain covered by RTWPB VII for minimum wage-setting purposes, while Negros Occidental remains under RTWPB VI in Western Visayas.The wage adjustme...

Sep272026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

San Carlos bishop calls for renewable energy shift amid Negros, Visayas power crisis

Community, Top Stories

San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza has called for greater investment in locally available renewable energy and stricter accountability for power generators amid recurring electricity interruptions in Negros and the Visayas.In a pastoral statement dated Sunday, Sept. 27, Alminaza said generation shortfalls, transmission constraints and limited power imports have contributed to recent grid alerts, affecting households, businesses, schools, hospitals and farmers.He urged authorities to distinguish between the causes of power shortages and the rotating power interruptions implemented by distribution utilities upon the grid operator’s instructions.Alminaza cited a review of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) advisories from May 12 to Sept. 8, 2026, which repeatedly ...

Sep272026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Bacolod gears up for MassKara, Batang Pinoy, MMFF Parade of Stars

Community, Sports, Top Stories

Bacolod City is preparing to host three major events in the final quarter of 2026, with an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 athletes and delegates expected for the Batang Pinoy national youth sports competition.Mayor Greg Gasataya announced the city's preparations for the MassKara Festival in October, Batang Pinoy 2026 and the Metro Manila Film Festival's first simultaneous Parade of Stars in December during Bacolod Day at the 40th Negros Trade Fair in Taguig City, Sept. 26.Gasataya said the events are expected to bring more visitors to Bacolod and generate opportunities for local businesses.“This will be a very busy quarter for the City of Bacolod, and this will redound to the benefit of the people of Bacolod and, as much as possible, every business in Bacolod and Negros Occidental,...