Negros Oriental

Two motorcycle riders died on the spot after their motorcycle collided head-on with a dump truck along the national highway in San Jose, Negros Oriental, on Wednesday morning, Aug. 12.The San Jose police said the collision happened at around 8:25 a.m. in front of the Jilocon Gymnasium in Brgy. Jilocon.Initial investigation showed that a HOWO Sinotruk dump truck driven by a 26-year-old man from Bais City was traveling northbound from Dumaguete City toward Bais City.A Yamaha NMAX motorcycle driven by a 25-year-old man from Tanjay City, with a back rider whose identity has yet to be determined, was traveling southbound toward Dumaguete City.Police said the motorcycle driver allegedly attempted to overtake another vehicle while negotiating a curved portion of the highway.Du...

Maritime safety, search and rescue, law enforcement, and environmental protection operations in northern Negros are expected to improve with the deployment of the Philippine Coast Guard’s High-Speed Response Boat 053 (HSRB-053) in Sagay City.The vessel was formally blessed and inaugurated on Aug. 11 at the Sagay City Feeder Port in Brgy. Old Sagay, bringing a faster-response maritime asset closer to coastal communities, fisherfolk, passengers, and the protected waters of the Visayan Sea, a press release from Sagay City said Wednesday, Aug. 12.HSRB-053 is a 12- to 15-meter class high-speed response boat acquired under the Philippine Coast Guard modernization initiative.Constructed using fiberglass-reinforced plastic, the vessel was designed as a fast and highly maneuverable plat...

The distribution of UPLIFT cash assistance.*DSWD photoA total of 95,966 poor and near-poor beneficiaries across the Negros Island Region (NIR) have received ₱191,932,000 in UPLIFT cash assistance, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) NIR reported Tuesday, August 11.Each qualified beneficiary received ₱2,000 as of Monday, according to the report.The continuing payout has reached beneficiaries in  all three provinces in the region: 62,615 from Negros Occidental, 32,915 from Negros Oriental, and 436 from Siquijor.Meanwhile, the DSWD aims to start Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) disbursements this week for small farmers whose crops have been hit by Red Striped Soft Scale Insects in Negros Oriental, DSWD NIR Regional Director Arwin Razo said.Disbursemen...

The scene of the fire* BFP photoAn 83-year-old person died after a fire destroyed a one-storey house in Brgy. Balugo, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, on Monday night, Aug. 10.The Dumaguete City Fire Station said the alarm was received at around 8:40 p.m. at Habitat 1, near the Brgy. Balugo gym.Firefighters were dispatched a minute later and arrived at the scene at around 8:46 p.m., recording a response time of about five minutes.The fire reached first alarm upon their arrival and was placed under control at around 8:56 p.m.It was declared out at around 9 p.m.The residential structure was destroyed, affecting one family composed of two individuals.The Bureau of Fire Protection said the 83-year-old victim sustained fourth-degree burns over the entire body.No ...

The Department of Education (DepEd) tightened security at the Dumaguete City National High School (DCNHS) on Tuesday, July 11,  following a threat circulating on social media that individuals armed with a gun and knife would enter a school and kill students, beginning with eighth graders.Dr. Juditha Mapue, assistant schools division superintendent of DepEd-Dumaguete City Division, said  that authorities decided to heighten security measures as a precaution, even though the social media post did not identify the school being targeted.The post's reference to "DCNHS" could also refer to another school, Mapue said."Better to be safe than sorry," she said, explaining the decision to implement stricter security measures.Parents were informed through their class group ch...

A reticulated python was safely captured after it was found inside a commercial establishment in Dumaguete City on Wednesday night, Aug. 5.The Bureau of Fire Protection-Dumaguete City Fire Station said its Shift 2 personnel responded to the establishment in Brgy. Calindagan after receiving a report about the snake.Firefighters secured the area and captured the python using proper wildlife handling procedures.No injuries, casualties or property damage were reported during the operation.The snake was later turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for proper care and eventual safe release.The BFP reminded the public not to attempt to capture or disturb snakes and other wild animals and to instead keep a safe distance and seek assistance from autho...

The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region arrested the No. 10 most wanted person at the regional level during a manhunt operation in Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental, on Friday, Aug. 7.Police identified the accused only by the alias “Rob,” 41, a farmer and resident of Brgy. Ulay.Personnel of the Vallehermoso Municipal Police Station served a warrant of arrest against him for qualified rape of a minor, with no bail recommended.Police said the accused is the victim’s father and allegedly sexually abused her after she was allowed by her guardian to sleep at his house.Authorities said the alleged incident happened after the accused came home intoxicated from a birthday celebration.The accused was informed of his constitutional rights in a language he understood and is cu...

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...

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...

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...