Negros Oriental

Aug72026 by Judy F. PartlowNo Comments

WHO backs DOH drive vs. measles-rubella

Dr. Jan Sibala Arco, municipal health officer of Sibulan in Negros Oriental, administers the supplemental measles-rubella vaccine to her three-year-old daughter during the launch on Friday.*PNA/Mary Judaline F. Parlow photoThe Department of Health-Negros Island Region (DOH-NIR) launched its Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization (MRSI) campaign in Sibulan town on Friday, Aug. 7Dr. Liland Estacion, Provincial Health Office chief, said Sibulan was selected as venue because of its large population of young children.During the launch, World Health Organization (WHO) consultant Dr. Mohammed Reazul Hasan delivered a message of support to the third phase and the largest component of the nationwide MRSI campaign.“It aims to protect more than 6.2 million children aged 6 to 59 mon...

Aug62026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Cops seize ₱14.6M in suspected illegal cigarettes in Bago

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

The seized cigarettes in Bago City/*PRO NIR photoPolice seized an estimated ₱14.6 million worth of suspected illegal cigarettes during a coordinated anti-smuggling operation in Purok Narra, Barangay Malingin, Bago City, on Thursday afternoon, August 6.A laborer identified as alias "Kev," 32, of Zamboanga City, was arrested during the operation, while two unidentified male suspects escaped over a perimeter fence and remain at large.The bust originated from a checkpoint in Barangay Lag-asan, where Bago City police flagged down a white Isuzu aluminum van following intelligence reports regarding untaxed tobacco distribution.Upon inspection, officers discovered reams of "Concept" brand cigarettes concealed beneath bundles of laundry. During questioning, the driver revealed...

Aug62026 by Judy F. PartlowNo Comments

Negros Oriental logs 4.3K sore eyes cases, no outbreak declared

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

The Provincial Health Office (PHO) has recorded 4,388 cases of conjunctivitis, or sore eyes, in Negros Oriental, with health authorities warning that infections could continue to rise because of the disease's highly contagious nature.PHO chief Dr. Liland Estacion said Thursday, August 6, that 2,674 of the reported cases were from Dumaguete City, while the remaining 1,714 were recorded in other cities and municipalities across the province."Cases may continue to rise as conjunctivitis, caused by viruses or bacteria, is highly contagious and spreads easily through contact with eye discharge or contaminated surfaces," Estacion said in an interview.She, however, noted that despite the increasing number of cases, there is no need to declare a conjunctivitis outbreak in the pro...

Aug62026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

P15M in smuggled cigarettes seized at Dumaguete port

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

The seized cigarettes*PRO NIR photoLaw enforcement authorities intercepted more than ₱15 million worth of smuggled cigarettes and arrested three individuals during a joint anti-smuggling operation at the Port Area in Barangay Looc, Dumaguete City, on Wednesday evening, August 5.The coordinated operation, led by the Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) alongside the Bureau of Customs, Philippine Coast Guard, and local police units, acted on targeted intelligence regarding contraband transported via a RORO vessel from Pagadian City. Intercepted aboard a green Canter truck were 263 master cases of undocumented cigarettes—comprising Walter Premium and Busqu Full Flavor brands—valued at ₱15,069,900, along with 200 boxes of dried fish used as cover, the PRO NIR...

Aug52026 by Judy F. PartlowNo Comments

DA accepts indemnification applications from NegOr ASF-hit hog raisers

Negros Oriental

Jessa Fonollera file photoThe Department of Agriculture (DA) has begun accepting indemnification applications from hog raisers in Negros Oriental whose pigs were culled due to the African swine fever (ASF).Bernard Limbaga, head of the DA-Provincial Agriculture Technology Coordinating Office (PATCO) in Negros Oriental, said Wednesday, August 5, that hog farmers affected by government-led ASF depopulation efforts may apply for financial assistance.Limbaga said the amount of indemnification depends on the type of hogs culled, with compensation generally covering adult pigs such as boars and sows, while suckling piglets may not qualify.He said both Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC)-registered hog raisers and unregistered backyard farmers may avail of the govern...

Aug52026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

DSWD to distribute ₱80.5M to 7,673 more NegOcc RSSI-hit sugarcane farmers, workers to also get aid

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

The ECT distribution in Talisay City last week.*DSWD NIR photoThe Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to distribute ₱80.5 million in Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) payouts to 7,673 more smallholder sugarcane farmers affected by the Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI) infestation in seven local government units in Negros Occidental starting Thursday, August 6.“We are also waiting for the validation of lists for ECT payouts to Negros Oriental farmers and workers of small farms affected by RSSI in the Negros Island Region,” DSWD-NIR Regional Director Arwin Razo said Wednesday, August 5.Small farmers and farm workers in severely affected areas will receive ₱10,325 each, so total payouts could reach billions of pesos, he said.“We need the validated li...

Aug52026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

NegOr suspends classes province-wide on Friday due increase in sore eyes cases

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Governor Manuel L. Sagarbarria issued Executive Order No. 50, Series of 2026, on Wedenesday.* Negros Oriental Facebook pageThe provincial government of Negros Oriental has ordered the suspension of classes across all levels in both public and private schools on Friday, August 7, following a reported surge in cases of conjunctivitis, commonly known as "sore eyes."Governor Manuel L. Sagarbarria issued Executive Order No. 50, Series of 2026, on Wednesday declaring the province-wide suspension upon the official recommendation of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO).He said the preventive measure aims to minimize close-contact exposure among students, teaching personnel, and school staff as cases continue to rise across several areas in the province. Local...

Aug52026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Sagarbarria seeks national RSSI aid for Negros Oriental

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Rep. Ma. Isabel Sagarbarria (Neg. Or., 2nd District) at the House of Representatives on Tuesday, August 4.*Glazyl Masculino-Jopson photoRep. Ma. Isabel Sagarbarria (Neg. Or., 2nd District) is urging the national government to extend financial and logistical assistance to her province as the red-striped soft scale insect continues to damage sugarcane farms across Negros Island.Sagarbarria raised the concern during the House Committee on Agriculture and Food hearing on proposed amendments to the Sugarcane Industry Development Act and the Sugar Regulatory Administration charter on Tuesday, Aug. 4, in Quezon City.She said Negros Oriental had not received a national government allocation similar to the P235-million assistance package announced for farmers and anti-RSSI operati...

Aug52026 by Judy F. PartlowNo Comments

Negros Oriental cops intensify drive vs smuggled cigarettes

Negros Oriental

Boxes of suspected smuggled cigarettes found during a police operation in Negros Oriental.*PNP photo Police in Negros Oriental have intensified their campaign against suspected smuggled cigarettes amid indications that the contraband is now being distributed in smaller quantities to retailers, a police official said Tuesday, August 4.Capt. Stephen Jaynard Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO), said police are conducting intelligence and monitoring operations to determine whether smugglers have shifted from bulk distribution to supplying smaller volumes to retailers.During an online media briefing, Polinar said that except for one major seizure in July, most police operations recovered only small volumes of undocumented cigarettes....

Aug52026 by Mary Judaline PartlowNo Comments

Guihulngan City in NegOr sets minimum hog, pork prices amid ASF woes

Negros Oriental

The government of Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental has imposed minimum buying and retail prices for live hogs and pork products to protect hog raisers, traders, and consumers amid growing concerns over the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in the province.A social media post of the city government showed Mayor Filomeno Reyes signed Executive Order No. 17, Series of 2026 on Monday, establishing the minimum buying price for live hogs and pork carcasses, as well as the minimum retail price for pork sold within the city.Under the order, the minimum buying price for live hogs is set at PHP160 per kilogram (kg) for live weight, while the minimum buying price for pork carcasses is PHP200 per kg. The minimum retail price of pork has been fixed at PHP240 per kilogram.The executive o...