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Jul202026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Labor group slams ‘wasteful’ aerial spraying vs. RSSI, demands direct cash aid

The National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines–Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (NACUSIP–TUCP) is calling on Negros leaders to stop "wasteful" aerial spraying and bypass bureaucratic red tape to deliver direct cash relief to thousands of affected farmers as the devastating Red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) sweep across sugarlands in Negros Island.In an open letter from Roland de la Cruz, NACUSIP president, released to the media Monday, July 20, the unions sounded the alarm over the rapid spread of the RSSI, which has now crippled over 78,000 hectares of sugarcane fields across both Negros Occidental and Oriental.NACUSIP-TUCP, citing Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) data, said the scale o...

Jul202026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

P1.1M in drugs seized in 3 Negros Island cities

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The buy bust operation in Bais City*Law enforcement agents have seized P1.1 million in drugs in three cities in Negros Island.A 29-year-old repeat offender classified as a High-Value Individual (HVI) was arrested on Sunday, July 19, after police seized an estimated P374,000 worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Barangay 2, Bais City.The suspect, identified only by his alias “Nick,” is a married resident of Aglipay Street, Barangay 1, Bais City, the police reported.According to police reports, the operation stemmed from a tip provided by a confidential informant regarding Nick’s alleged drug trafficking activities in Barangay 2. Law enforcement operatives immediately launched casing, surveillance, and validation operations to monitor the suspect...

Jul202026 by Nanette GuadalquiverNo Comments

Sagay City softbelles win 2026 PONY World Series title

Sports, Top Stories

Team Philippines from Sagay City in Negros Occidental * Sagay City Tourism and Information Office photoSagay City in Negros Occidental won the championship in the Girls 14 Under Division of the 2026 PONY International Softball World Series held in McAllen, Texas in the United States on Monday (Philippine time).The Negrense softbelles swept Mexico’s RXII Kino Team in the finals to clinch the title after finishing only fourth in last year’s tournament.“Rising above more than 30 teams, our young athletes battled through 11 games from the elimination round to the championship,” Sagay City OIC-Schools Division Superintendent Dannie Clark Uguil said in a Facebook post.Uguil said the Negrense student-athletes’ “remarkable achievement reflects the power of teamwork, discipline, res...

Jul202026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

SP approves ordinance establishing Bacolod Emergency Communication System

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The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod has unanimously approved on third and final reading the Bacolod Emergency Communication System (BECS) Ordinance of 2026, Bacolod Councilor Caesar Distrito said Monday, July 20.The ordinance authored by Distrito and co-authored by Councilor Psyche Marie “Pao” Sy institutionalizes a centralized emergency communication system that will serve as the City’s official platform for disseminating verified and timely information during disasters, emergencies, public disturbances, health crises, and other situations affecting public safety.Under the ordinance, the Bacolod Emergency Communication System (BECS) will operate under the supervision of the City Mayor through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), in coordination w...

Jul202026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

11-year-old boy killed, brother wounded in Manjuyod stabbing; uncle found dead

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

An 11-year-old boy was killed while his 16-year-old brother was injured after they were allegedly stabbed by their uncle in Manjuyod, Negros Oriental, on Sunday afternoon, July 19.The incident happened at around 2:30 p.m. in Sitio Habay-Habay, Brgy. Candabong, the Manjuyod police reported.The police said the two victims, along with their siblings were about to have lunch at their grandfather’s house when their 28-year-old uncle suddenly attacked them with a hunting knife without apparent provocation.Authorities said the younger victim sustained a stab wound on the right side of his body, while the older victim was stabbed in the abdomen.The other siblings fled the house during the attack.The younger victim was carried by one of his siblings, while the older vict...

Jul202026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Negros Island Region posts third-highest child stunting rate in PH

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The Negros Island Region (NIR) recorded the country’s third-highest stunting rate among children under five years old, according to the latest 2025 Updating Survey of the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) highlighted by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2).Data released by EDCOM 2 on July 18 showed that 30.9 percent of children aged 0 to 59 months in the Negros Island Region are stunted, placing the region behind only the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (36 percent) and the Zamboanga Peninsula (34.6 percent).The figure is significantly higher than the national average of 25.3 percent, which EDCOM 2 said marks the country’s first increase in child stunting in 10 years.EDCOM 2 described the...

Jul202026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Bacolod, Dumaguete beauties finish as runners-up in Binibining Pilipinas 2026

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Gwendoline Meliz Frias Soriano of Baguio City is Binibining Pilipinas International and Sasha-Juli Belle Penuliar Lacuna of Tarlac Province is Binibining Pilipinas Globe (center) along with NIR beauties Julianne Raine Amigo Antonio of Dumaguete City (left) who finished as First Runner-up while Tracy Mae Sunio (right) of Bacolod City was Second Runner-up.*Beauty queens from Bacolod City and Dumaguete City emerged among the Top 4 finalists of the Binibining Pilipinas 2026 pageant after finishing as runners-up during the Grand Coronation Night held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Saturday, July 18.Julianne Raine Amigo Antonio of Dumaguete City finished as First Runner-up while Tracy Mae Sunio of Bacolod City was named Second Runner-up, after advancing through the competi...

Jul202026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Silliman holding memorial services for slain marine biologist, 5 suspects charged

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Dr. Kent E. Carpenter.*SU photoMemorial services for slain marine biologist Dr. Kent E. Carpenter will be held at the Udarbe Chapel of Silliman University (SU) in Dumaguete City from Monday to Wednesday, July 20 to 22.SU announced that the services will run daily from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.This will provide an opportunity for colleagues, friends, members of the scientific community, local government officials from the Negros Island–Siquijor Region, and the public to pay their respects and celebrate Carpenter's life and enduring contributions to marine science, biodiversity conservation, and environmental research, SU said.Representatives from academic and government institutions in Manila and other regions are also expected to attend to express their condolences and honor ...

Jul192026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Motorcycle collision in Pulupandan leaves driver dead, another injured

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A collision between a motorcycle and a motorized tricycle along the Negros South Road in Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, late Saturday night left one driver dead and another injured, the police reported Sunday, July 19.The fatality was a 53-year-old resident of Purok Tundo, Barangay Mabini, Valladolid.A Pulupandan police report said the Valladolid resident was driving a red Honda 155 motorcycle with a sidecar without a driver's license at the time of the accident.Police investigations revealed that at around 10:15 p.m. Saturday a black Rusi DL 150 Sprinter motorcycle, driven by 23-year-old construction worker of Bacolod City, was traveling north from Hinigaran toward Bago City.Upon reaching Barangay Crossing Pulupandan, the tricycle suddenly and abruptly crossed the road...

Jul192026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Elderly woman found dead along Cauayan seashore

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A 66-year-old widow drowned after she reportedly went for her routine morning walk along the seashore in Barangay Tiling, Cauayan in Negros Occidental on Saturday, July 18.Police identified the victim only as "Elena," a resident of Purok 1, Barangay Tiling.The Cauayan police said the victim left her home at around 5:30 a.m. to walk along the coast, which was part of her daily routine. At approximately 6:10 a.m. a local fisherman identified as Dandy Lirazan discovered Elena lying unconscious on the shore.Lirazan immediately sought help from nearby residents and contacted both the local police and Rescue Team Cauayan. While waiting for emergency responders to arrive, neighbors attempted to resuscitate the victim.Rescue personnel arrived shortly after and rushed El...