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File photo. *Ronnie Baldonado photoThe Grand Opening Salubong, Electric MassKara, celebrity concerts, and various family-oriented activities will be held during the 17-day celebration of the MassKara Festival at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) grounds from October 6 to 22.The BCGC is one of the major festival sites of the 2-week MassKara Festival and will host the Grand Opening Salubong on October 6.On October 7 the MassKaRide, MAssKaZumba, and MassKara Fun Run at midnight will also be held at the BCGC grounds.Aspiring kid models will also be featured on October 8, day 3 of the festivities at the site with the “SuperCity’s Little Trendsetter”.Local short films will be shown to the public for free on October 9 and 16 at the BCGC stage “Yuhum Outdoor Cinema” and...

There will be a large drop in gasoline prices and a slight increase for diesel on Tuesday, October 3, according to a forecast by Unioil Petroleum Philippines Inc. on Saturday.Diesel prices will increase by P0.20 to P0.40 per liter, and gasoline prices should go down by P1.80 to P2 per liter, Unioil said.There was a minimal price rollback on September 26, that meant a year-to-date per-liter net increase of P17.30 for gasoline, P13.40 for diesel, and P9.44 for kerosene, the Department of Energy reported.*

The drug bust in Purok Kagaygay, Brgy. 2, Bacolod.*BCPO photoThe police seized guns, suspected shabu and marijuana worth P423,000 and arrested three individuals in two buy-bust operations in Bacolod City, early Saturday morning, September 30.Jerish Christian Pano, 28, a high-value target was arrested with 50 grams of suspected shabu worth P320,000 in Purok Kagaygay, Brgy. 2, at 1:30 a.m. Saturday, the police reported.Col. Noel Aliño, Bacolod police director, said that the arrest was a result of an intelligence driven operation as the suspect was previously arrested for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act but was released through a plea bargaining agreement.Ken Ryu Barrientos, 20, and Martin John Beantingo, 33, both residents of Brgy. Villamonte, were arrested in...

Taking the cue from the “Matatag” agenda of the Department of Education, the Victorias Milling Company (VMC) with the VMC Foundation elevated their “Brigada Eskwela” program by redefining programs that will establish a better learning environment for the students in their constituency.VMC President Linley Retirado said VMC is “focusing more on building resilient schools and classrooms” and recognizing that the only way to move forward with this plan is to “strengthen partnerships with various government agencies, the local government units as well as the parents-teachers associations of the various schools in the communities we serve.”Along with its foundation arm, VMC recently launched their program in various schools in Manapla town, Victorias City and Cadiz City, a press release...

The dengue deaths in Negros Occidental increased to seven with 1,103 cases reported this year, the Provincial Health Office reported Friday, September 29.The PHO reported six dengue deaths on September 20.But the dengue cases from January to September this year remain 79.91 percent lower than the 5,489 cases in the same period in 2022.Leptospirosis deaths for this year remained at 15 and eight for cholera, the PHO also reported.There have been 127 suspected leptospirosis cases and 71 suspected and 16 confirmed cholera cases this year, the PHO added.*

A 46-year-old mother died after a 14-wheeler truck carrying tons of sugarcane accidentally fell on her at the highway in Sitio Cabcab, Brgy. Tabo, Ilog, Negros Occidental, on Friday, September 29.Ilog Municipal Executive Senior Police Officer Larry Arriola told DIGICAST NEGROS that the victim was Alma Claridad, 46, of Barangay Tabo.The police said that Alma and her husband, Reynaldo, 60, both sugarcane workers, were walking on the side of the road when the tire of the 14-wheeler truck busted causing it to fall on its side.The husband had no injuries but Alma was buried alive beneath the sugarcane that fell on her.Alma was brought to the Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital in Kabankalan City but was declared dead on arrival, the police said.Arriola said that the driver of...

The 12 NPA surrenderees at rites in Sagay City on Friday.*303IB photoA high ranking leader and 11 combatants of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered at rites held at the Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion headquarters in Barangay Bato, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, on Friday, September 29.The remnants of the dismantled Northern Negros Front of the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor, New People’s Army, also turned over three high-powered firearms and nine pistols to the Philippine Army.The high-ranking NPA leader who surrendered was identified as alias Ebyong who served as the secretary/commanding officer of the now defunct Northern Negros Front.Capt. Dan Carlo Samoza, Civil-Military Operations Officer of the 79IB, told DIGICAST NEGROS that this surrender was a re...

First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Benitez at the 37th Negros Trade Fair on Friday.*Ronnie Baldonado photoFirst Lady Liza Araneta Marcos showed support for the producers at the 37th Negros Trade Fair at Glorietta 2 in Makati City by buying a lot of their products during her visit Friday afternoon, September 29,, NTF vice chairperson MaryAnn Feria Colmenares said.Marcos joined Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez at the Bacolod Day at the NTF that highlighted the upcoming MassKara Festival.The First Lady said the products made in Negros are very nice, Benitez disclosed.The visit of First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos to the 37th Negros Trade Fair on Friday.*Ronnie Baldonado photosSales at the NTF as of Thursday hit P28...

Two suspects, including a habal-habal- driver, were arrested in buy-bust operations in Tanjay City and Valencia town in Negros Oriental, on Friday, September 29.Nabbed was alias “Pol”, a habal-habal driver in Saging Malaunay, Valencia.The police seized 0.5 gram of suspected shabu valued at P1,500 and buy-bust money worth P500 from him in Purok 4, Brgy. West Balabag, Valencia.Meanwhile, alias “Jun”, a street-level individual was arrested with suspected shabu weighing four grams worth P27,200 in Brgy. Tugas, Tanjay City, the police said.*

The Commission on Elections has issued another show cause order for premature campaigning and vote-buying against a Sipalay City candidate, Negros Occidental Provincial Election Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said Friday, September 29.It is the second show cause order issued in the province. The first one was for premature campaigning lodged against a Bacolod candidate, he said.The Comelec has stepped up its campaign against premature campaigning and Kontra Bigay (vote buying) offenders in the 2023 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.Two other candidates in Cadiz City are under investigation for alleged Kontra Bigay violations, Ananoria added.The Comelec has created the Committee on Kontra Bigay (CBK) to handle cases versus vote buying.Violations of the Kontra Biga...