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A resurgence of African Swine Fever (ASF) has caused the death of more than 500 pigs in San Enrique, Negros Occidental, Mayor Jilson Tubillara confirmed on Tuesday, June 23.Tubillara said that hogs in all 10 barangays in San Enrique have been affected, with the virus officially confirmed by laboratory tests on Monday.In response to the outbreak, local authorities have established pig border controls and heightened biosecurity measures to prevent the virus from spreading further.Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson confirmed on Tuesday that the ASF resurgence in Negros Occidental's, primarily in the southern part of the province.As of Tuesday the pig mortality in Negros Occidental had reached 4.06 percent, the governor said.Lacson said that the ASF cases have been confirmed ...

A state of calamity over Negros Occidental will remain in effect amid reports that 32.18 percent of its sugarcane fields have already been hit by the highly destructive Red Striped Soft-Scale Insects (RSSI), Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Tuesday, June 23.Sugar Regulatory Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona and United Sugar Producers Federation president Manuel Lamata briefed the governor and members of the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan on the extent of the RSSI damage at the SP session hall at the Capitol in Bacolod City on Tuesday.A state of calamity is necessary to hasten the release of funds and aid from national government agencies and local governments to address the RSSI problem, Azcona said.Lacson said the provincial government had placed Negros Occidental un...

A 17-year-old Grade 9 student was injured in a stabbing incident involving another minor in San Carlos City on Tuesday afternoon, June 23, police said.The incident occurred at around 3:40 p.m. in Teachers Village, Brgy. 2, San Carlos City, outside school premises and after class hours.In a statement, the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) said the victim sustained an injury to the lower right side of his abdomen and was immediately brought to the San Carlos City Hospital for treatment.Authorities said the student is conscious and receiving medical care.The alleged suspect, 17, a Grade 10 student, was apprehended during a pursuit operation conducted by responding police officers.Police also recovered the bladed weapon allegedly used in the incident....

The crime scene  in Pontevedra*A 20-year-old criminology student was killed while a 53-year-old man was injured in a stabbing incident in New Casal-agan, Brgy. Antipolo, Pontevedra, Negros Occidental. on Monday night, June 22.The fatality was identified as alias "Tam Tam", a second-year Bachelor of Science in Criminology student at La Carlota City College and a resident of the area.Injured was “Gusting”, 53, who is undergoing medical treatment while the suspect, identified as “Atong”, 43, is now under police custody.Investigation revealed that the suspect was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and causing a disturbance at their residence when family members attempted to pacify him.A confrontation ensued after Gusting, who is the suspect's brother-in-law, interve...

The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) has reminded police personnel to strictly safeguard government-issued firearms while also ordering intensified monitoring and security measures in schools amid concerns over youth violence.In separate directives issued on June 23, Acting Regional Director Police BGen. Romano Cardiño emphasized the importance of firearm accountability following a recent incident in Tacloban City involving the unauthorized use of a police-issued firearm.Cardiño said all police officers must ensure that their issued firearms are properly secured and inaccessible to unauthorized individuals, including family members and minors.“All government-issued firearms remain under the accountability of the personnel to whom they are entrusted. We remi...

Mayor Greg Gasataya issued an executive order on Tuesday, June 23, reconstituting a task force to formulate a comprehensive contingency plan for African Swine Fever (ASF) prevention in Bacolod City.This proactive step is part of the city's continuous efforts to protect local farmers, hog raisers, vendors, consumers, and the entire swine industry against the ongoing threat of the disease, he said.The EO was issued after ASF cases were confirmed to have resurfaced in some part of Negros Occidental.Under the executive order, the task force will focus on executing a more organized and concerted action plan.This includes forming specific control measures, conducting widespread information and awareness campaigns among stakeholders, and establishing investigation and control pro...

Two men were arrested after police recovered firearms and suspected shabu worth P238,000 during the implementation of a search warrant in Manapla, Negros Occidental, on Monday, June 22.Arrested were aliases “Raprap,” 30, and “Rey,” 18, both laborers and residents of Hacienda Unson, Brgy. Sta. Teresa, Manapla.Personnel of the Manapla Municipal Police Station and the Regional Intelligence Unit-Negros Island Region implemented a search warrant for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act at around 10 a.m. in Hacienda Unson.Police said the warrant was served at the residence of alias “Raprap” and was witnessed by barangay officials and a media representative.Recovered from the possession of alias “Raprap” were a .38 caliber re...

Film Academy of the Philippines  Director General Paolo Villaluna, Communications Division Chief Pocholo Goitia, and Legal Unit Head  Andi Bañadero (l-r) address the media during a press conference at Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City.*Ronnie Baldonado photos.Officials of the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) on Tuesday, June 23, urged film and audiovisual workers in the Visayas to organize associations and guilds as part of efforts to strengthen industry representation, access government support, and improve professional standards.The call was made during a media meet-and-greet held at Nature's Village Resort in Talisay City ahead of the 2026 Visayas Guild Summit scheduled on June 24 in Negros Occidental.Leading the delegation were FAP Director General Jose Paolo ...

The crime scene  in Pontevedra*The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has expressed full confidence in the Bacolod City’s readiness to host Batang Pinoy 2026 from December 12 to 18.Speaking during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday, June 23, at the PSC Main Building inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, PSC Chairman John Patrick “Pato” Gregorio highlighted the strong partnership between the PSC and Bacolod City in staging Batang Pinoy and other sports development initiatives, a Bacolod City Communications Office press release said.“That’s what I always say when asked about the criteria for considering an LGU, a city, or a province to host a PSC event in partnership with DepEd and DILG. It’s important to note how involved the mayor a...

Remittances from the  Energy Regulation (ER) Program 1-94 for 2025 turned over to representatives of the Municipality of Valencia and Barangays Puhagan, Malaunay, and Caidiocan in Negros Oriental.*EDC photoHost communities of the Southern Negros Geothermal Project (SNGP) in Valencia, Negros Oriental, are set to receive significantly higher remittances in 2026 following the implementation of the enhanced Energy Regulation (ER) Program 1-94 by the Department of Energy (DOE).Erwin Magallanes, head of the Public Relations Division of First Gen-owned Energy Development Corporation (EDC) in Negros, said Tuesday, June 23, that the updated policy under Department Circular DC2025-10-0023 increases the financial benefits for host communities of energy resource and power-generating faciliti...