Negros Oriental

Jul152026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Dumaguete to host inaugural 6200 BookFest

Dumaguete City will host the inaugural 6200 BookFest from July 17 to 19 at Filinvest Mall, bringing together national publishers, independent booksellers, authors, and readers.The three-day event is being positioned as the first regional book fair of its kind in the Negros Island Region and will also serve as a host event for the National Book Development Board’s Philippine Book Festival in the Regions.Themed “Across the Shores,” the fair will feature a marketplace for publishers and booksellers, along with book launches, author talks, and workshops for readers, writers, and educators.Historian and author Ambeth Ocampo will deliver the keynote address.Ocampo is known for his writings on Philippine history and national hero José Rizal, including the book Rizal Without the Ov...

Jul152026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

6 injured after motorcycle with sidecar hit by wing van in Valladolid

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Six people were injured after a wing van struck a motorcycle with a sidecar along the national highway in Valladolid, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday morning, July 14.Police identified the motorcycle driver as alias “Ian,” 42, a resident of Valladolid, whose driver’s license was already expired.His five passengers were identified as aliases “Rona,” 41; “Angelo,” 23; “John,” 24; “Ramelyn,” 22; and “Pinky,” 24.The Mitsubishi wing van was driven by alias “Fernando,” 38, a resident of Sibulan, Negros Oriental.Police said both vehicles were traveling north from San Enrique toward Valladolid when the wing van struck the Kawasaki Barako motorcycle at around 8:30 a.m.The motorcycle driver and his passengers sustained injuries on different parts of their bodies.Personnel of th...

Jul142026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Silliman, int’l scientific community mourn tragic death of renowned marine biologist

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Dr. Kent E. Carpenter made groundbreaking contributions that transformed the global understanding of Philippine marine biodiversity.*Silliman University photoSilliman University (SU) on Tuesday, July 14, said it joins the international scientific community in mourning the loss of Dr. Kent E. Carpenter, a distinguished marine biologist who was killed in his home in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, on Sunday evening.He was a research associate at Silliman and Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences at Old Dominion University in Virginia, United States.At about 11:30 p.m. Sunday, July 12, three suspects forcibly entered the victim’s residence in Barangay Ajong, Sibulan, while he and his live-in partner were watching television, Capt. Stephen Jaynard Polinar, spokesperson of...

Jul142026 by Judy F. Partlow and Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Special task group probes fatal shooting of American marine scientist

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Police investigators examine clothing and other personal belongings at the residence of an American national who was shot dead in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, on Sunday evening.* NORPPO photoThe Philippine National Police (PNP) has created a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to investigate the fatal shooting of an American marine scientist and the alleged sexual assault of his Filipino partner in Sibulan, Negros Oriental.Capt. Stephen Jaynard Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NORPPO), in a virtual press briefing on Tuesday, said that SITG Carpenter is composed of police investigators, personnel from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Provincial Anti-Cybercrime Team, Scene of the Crime Operatives, and other law enforcem...

Jul142026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Search and retrieval operations ongoing for fisherman

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Search and retrieval operations are continuing for a 44-year-old fisherman who was swept away by strong river currents in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, on Monday night, July 13.The missing fisherman was identified as Ritchel, a resident of Sitio Bateria, Brgy. Poblacion.Witnesses Kelvin and Rufino told authorities that the victim attempted to help secure their pump boat amid the dangerous river conditions.The witnesses said they tried to stop him because he was allegedly intoxicated and the river current was strong.However, the victim continued toward the boat, lost his balance, and was carried away by the floodwaters.Personnel of the Guihulngan City Police Station, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and Bureau of Fire Protection are conducting retr...

Jul142026 by Judy F. PartlowNo Comments

Hogs in 3 Negros Oriental LGUs test positive for African swine fever

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

PNA/Mary Judaline Flores Partlow file photoAfrican swine fever (ASF) has been confirmed in hogs from three local government units (LGUs) in Negros Oriental prompting authorities to intensify containment efforts to prevent its spread.Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Melody Vilan said Tuesday, July 14, that laboratory tests confirmed ASF cases in the municipalities of La Libertad and Amlan, as well as Tanjay City."We are implementing containment measures in the affected areas to prevent further hog deaths caused by the virus," Vilan said in an interview.La Libertad was the first municipality to report unusual hog deaths. In response, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), in coordination with the LGU, Municipal Agriculture Office, Provincial ASF Task Force, Bureau of Animal...

Jul142026 by Judy F. PartlowNo Comments

Plant-based dressings, keto breads debut as NegOr food expo opens

Negros Oriental

Local businesses showcase their products at the Negros Oriental Food Expo 2026*DTI Negros Oriental photo A week-long food exposition organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Oriental is showcasing locally made food products and helping micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) expand their market reach, a DTI official said Monday, July 13.DTI-Negros Oriental spokesperson and Consumer Protection Division officer-in-charge Krystle Jade Bato said the Negros Oriental Food Expo 2026: Flavors of Negros Oriental features established and emerging food entrepreneurs from across the province.The exposition has 27 market-ready exhibitors and nine others under the emerging flavors and products category, Bato said."The regular exhibitors are market-ready ...

Jul142026 by Darryl John EsguerraNo Comments

PBBM expands ecozones in Negros Oriental, Cavite, Batangas

Negros Oriental

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has expanded the country's investment footprint by issuing proclamations declaring additional parcels of land to be incorporated to existing special economic zones (ecozones) in Cavite and Batangas, and to create a new information technology park in Negros Oriental to attract more investments and generate jobs.The President issued Proclamation Nos. 1337, 1338 and 1340, all signed by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto by authority of the President, on July 6.Under Proclamation No. 1337, Marcos designated about 331,348 square meters of land in Barangays Punta I and Sahud-Ulan, Tanza, Cavite, for inclusion in the existing Suntrust Ecotown Tanza-Special Economic Zone.The expansion was made pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 7916, or the Special Economi...

Jul132026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Soldier, wife die in Bacolod shooting, stabbing; father arrested

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

The scene of the crime.*PNP photoAn Army soldier and his wife died in a shooting and stabbing incident inside a residence in Brgy. 3, Bacolod City, on Sunday afternoon, July 12.Police identified the fatalities as “Paul,” 31, a Private First Class assigned to the 11th Infantry Battalion in Siaton, Negros Oriental, and his wife, “Leonora,” 28.Police Station 2 investigation showed that the couple had a heated argument after Leonora allegedly told her husband that his father had been allegedly harassing her younger sister.Police said the argument escalated, prompting Paul to draw his issued Glock 17 service firearm and fire a shot into the floor.Investigators said the couple then struggled for possession of the firearm, during which it accidentally discharged, hittin...

Jul132026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

American shot dead inside Sibulan home, police launch manhunt for 3 suspects

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

The American was shot dead in this house.*PNP photoA 73-year-old American national was shot dead inside his residence in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, late Sunday night, July 12, prompting police to launch a manhunt for three unidentified suspects.The victim was declared dead after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head.His 34-year-old Filipina companion was unharmed during the incident.Police said the shooting happened at around 11:30 p.m. in Purok 3, Brgy. Ajong.According to the Sibulan Municipal Police Station, officers responded after receiving a report from a concerned citizen about a shooting incident in the area.Initial investigation showed that the two victims were watching television inside their living room when three unidentified men forcibly entered the hous...