Negros Oriental

The Department of Social Welfare and Development–Negros Island Region (DSWD-NIR) has released a total of ₱386,732,350 in emergency cash assistance to sugarcane farmers affected by the red-striped soft-scale insect (RSSI) infestation as of Saturday, Sept.12.The amount has benefited 37,566 individuals, Arwin Razo, DSWD NIR head, said Sunday."This is a continuing effort of the government through the DSWD-NIR to provide direct assistance to small sugarcane farmers with five hectares or less whose crops and livelihoods have been severely disrupted by the RSSI infestation," Razo said.Negros Occidental received the largest portion of the aid, with ₱329,191,975 disbursed to 31,883 farmers. Within the province, Kabankalan City recorded the highest coverage with 6,661 beneficiar...

A 53-year-old laborer died after his motorcycle crashed into a mahogany tree along the Kabankalan-Mabinay Road in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 10.The Kabankalan City Component Police Station identified the victim only as alias “Gor-gor,” a resident of Sitio Overflow, Brgy. Hilamonan.Police said the victim was driving a Yamaha Vega 115 motorcycle from the Kabankalan City Public Market toward the Kabankalan-Mabinay Road when the incident happened at around 5:20 p.m. in Villa Concha, Brgy. Hilamonan.Initial investigation showed that the motorcycle was traveling along the right outer lane when the rider suddenly swerved toward the roadside and collided with a mahogany tree.The victim sustained serious injuries, particularly to the head.Per...

 The Philippine National Police (PNP) is eyeing the municipality of Murcia in Negros Occidental as the strategic hub of the new Police Regional Office - Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), placing the command center near Bacolod City while positioning mobile forces in other parts of the island.PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. told senators on Thursday, Sept. 10,  that several sites had been offered for the new regional headquarters, including areas in northern Negros, Kabankalan, near Bacolod, and Murcia.“Upon deliberation, we found it more appropriate to build the regional office at nearby Murcia,” Nartatez said during the Senate Finance Subcommittee J hearing on the proposed 2027 budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).Asked about t...

A foreign national earlier reported missing in Negros Oriental has been located and confirmed safe, the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office said.NOrPPO said on Sept. 9 that the police conducted verification and coordination after receiving information that the foreign national was believed to be somewhere in the province.Authorities eventually established direct contact with the individual and confirmed that he was safe and in good condition.Police said their validation found no indication of foul play or any threat to the foreign national’s safety.The circumstances surrounding the initial missing-person report were later clarified through communication with the individual, NOrPPO added.Police did not disclose the identity, nationality, location, or other personal ...

A rice field in Cauayan, Negros Occidental.*Ronnie Baldonado file photoA total of 11,351 hectares of rice production areas in the Negros Island Region (NIR) have been identified as susceptible to drought, a Department of Agriculture - Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) advisory  said Wednesday, Sept.9.DA-NIR Regional Executive Director Engr. Jose Albert A. Barrogo urged rice farmers, Local Government Units (LGUs), and agricultural stakeholders to take proactive measures to prepare for potential dry spells brought by the El Niño phenomenon.Data consolidated from PhilRice-PRiSM, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) showed that  Negros Occidental accounts for the largest vulnerable footprint with 8,247 hecta...

Three individuals linked to the March 4, 2023 shooting of then Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo at his residence have been convicted in separate cases involving illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Wednesday, Sept. 9.In a news release, the DOJ said the Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch 40, found Joric Garrido Labrador, Joven Calibjo Javier, and Benjie Rodriguez guilty after prosecutors proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt.“Labrador was sentenced to 8 to 10 years of imprisonment for unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition, while the two other accused were each sentenced to reclusion perpetua (up to 40 years in prison) for unlawful possession of explosives,” the department said.The cases arose from t...

The Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed the conviction of Orville Fua, former mayor of Lazi, Siquijor, and other public officers for graft involving more than PHP4.9 million worth of fertilizer procurement.In a decision written by Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier, the SC’s Second Division affirmed the Sandiganbayan’s ruling that found former Lazi officials Fua, Rose Marie Tomogsoc, Natalio Bongcawel Jumawan Jr., and Sue Agnes Castillon, and private individual Merlyn Estallo Lu guilty of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. (RA) 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.In 2004, Fua signed a purchase request for the procurement of fertilizers or farm inputs for the town’s Fertilizer Program. The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Lazi then entered into a memorandum of a...

 The Department of Health in the Negros Island Region (DOH-NIR) has vaccinated 200,455 children aged six to 59 months against measles and rubella, with no further extension planned for the supplemental immunization campaign, an official said Tuesday.DOH-NIR Assistant Regional Director Adrian Hort Ramos said the figure accounts for about 45 percent of the region’s target for the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA).Ramos attributed the low turnout partly to misinformation circulating on social media about the vaccine's safety.“Sadly, many mothers and guardians were convinced against the vaccine despite the agency’s information campaign explaining that it was safe,” he said.Ramos also cited cases in which parents said their children were sick durin...