Negros Oriental

The ECT disbursement in Murcia*DSWD NIR photoThe Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has released more than P199 million worth of financial assistance to smallholder farmers in 17 local government units (LGUs) in Negros Island, whose sugarcane crops were ravaged by red-striped soft scale insects, as of Sunday, August 23.The Emergency Cash Transfer has been released to 19,373 NIR beneficiaries, with more still to be distributed, DSWD Negros Island Region  Director Arwin Razo said Monday.The aid will also cover laborers, he said, but they are also still waiting for the lists from the LGUs.Negros Occidental received the largest share of financial assistance, with ₱151,199,300.00 distributed among 14,644 sugarcane farmers.The 11 Negros Occidental LGUs cover...

Kanlaon Volcano ash emission at 5:51 a.m Monday,*Screengrab from PhivolcsFace-to-face classes at all levels in both public and private schools in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, were suspended at noon Monday, August 24, due to ashfall and continued activity from Kanlaon Volcano.City Mayor Jose Chubasco B. Cardenas issued Executive Order No. 80, Series of 2026, ordering the suspension until further notice to safeguard students, teachers, and school personnel from respiratory hazards and road safety risks caused by volcanic ash.The order applies to all public and private schools in Canlaon City. It covers all face-to-face classes and school activities requiring physical attendance.Kanlaon Volcano at 5:51 a.m. Monday  generated a grayish plume that rose 200 meters above th...

A man died after his motorcycle hit the rear of a parked tractor head along the national highway in Purok Yee-on, Brgy. Cabahug at around 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22.*PNP photoTwo motorcycle riders died in separate road incidents in Cadiz and Kabankalan cities in Negros Occidental from Friday to Saturday, Aug. 21 to 22.In Cadiz City, a 39-year-old motorcycle driver identified only as alias “Abel” died after his motorcycle hit the rear of a parked tractor head along the national highway in Purok Yee-on, Brgy. Cabahug at around 6:30 p.m. Saturday.Abel was driving a Honda Click 125 with two back riders, alias “Ronnie,” 36, and Pedmon Arellano, when the collision happened.A witness told police that the motorcycle was traveling at high speed when it struck the rear of a Fuso tra...

The ECT payout in Manapla.*DSWD NIR photoThe Department of Social Welfare and Development has released P138,586,450  in Emergency Cash Transfers (ECT) to 13,514 small sugarcane farmers  whose crops have been hit by  Red-striped soft scale insects in the Negros Island Region  as of Friday, August 21,  DSWD NIR Regional Director Arwin Razo said.The payouts have covered  nine local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental and six in Negros Oriental so far.Negros Occidental recorded the highest number of beneficiaries, with 9,141 families receiving a total of ₱94,380,825.Among the LGUs in the province, Isabela topped the list with 2,262 beneficiaries (₱23,355,150.00), followed closely by Binalbagan with 1,523 beneficiaries (₱15,724,975.00) and ...

The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region deployed 1,650 personnel across Negros Island for the observance of Ninoy Aquino Day on Friday, Aug. 21.PRO-NIR said personnel are positioned in strategic areas, including transportation hubs, major thoroughfares, public places and locations where increased movement or gatherings were expected.The security deployment includes mobile, motorcycle and foot patrols, traffic assistance, checkpoints, border control operations and Reactionary Standby Support Forces.Police units were also directed to maintain heightened visibility, monitor public areas and respond to security concerns during the observance.PRO-NIR said it coordinated with local government units, other law enforcement agencies, force multipliers and stakeholders for se...

Education Secretary Sonny Angara (3rd from left, seated) meets with school administrators, teachers, and learner representatives to discuss safety protocols and other program implementation at the Bais City National High School in Negros Oriental on Thursday.*DepEd OSEC photoThe Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday, August 20,  further advanced nationwide security boost and campus safety, reaching public schools even in the Negros Island Region (NIR).Education Secretary Sonny Angara visited public schools in the NIR to assess campus safety protocols and evaluate the implementation of DepEd programs following Tuesday morning’s tragic shooting incident at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University. Angara visited Bais City National High School, the largest secondary scho...

Police are deployed at the gate of the Negros Oriental State University in Bais City, Negros Oriental, following an alleged threat on Wednesday *PNP photoTwo schools in Bais City, Negros Oriental, suspended classes on Wednesday, Aug. 19, after separate threats circulated through social media and text messages, police said.Capt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police, said the Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) - Bais campus and the Bais National High School evacuated students, teachers, and other personnel as a precaution.“The Bais City Police, together with the local government and school administrators, immediately conducted verification and deployed field training personnel or police recruits to the campuses,” Polinar said.He said the police re...

Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria*Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria has ordered a province-wide review and strengthening of security measures in and around schools following the shooting at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University campus that left two students dead on Tuesday, Aug. 18.In a statement, Sagarbarria directed concerned provincial offices to coordinate with the Philippine National Police, Department of Education, component cities and municipalities, and school administrators to assess existing security arrangements and emergency response procedures.The governor said the review should cover school access and security protocols, coordination with law enforcement and local authorities, security visibility where necessary, and preparedness for emergencies.“We m...

Five residential structures were destroyed by a fire in Poblacion 1, or Tinago, Dumaguete City on Monday morning, Aug. 17, the Bureau of Fire Protection said.The Dumaguete City Fire Station received the report at around 11:35 a.m. and dispatched firefighters a minute later.Firefighters arrived at the area at around 11:37 a.m., with the fire already fully developed.The blaze was raised to third alarm at around 11:39 a.m. by Dumaguete City Fire Marshal Chief Insp. Erwin Johannes Gimotea.The BFP said four two-storey houses and one one-storey residential structure were involved in the fire.The fire was placed under control at around 11:58 a.m. and was declared out at 12:07 p.m.No casualties or injuries were reported.Firefighters from Dumaguete, Sibulan, Valencia, Ba...