Top Stories

Two weeks before the official start of the MassKara Festival 2023, all food kiosks at its three major festival sites have been sold out.“This is an indication of the massive support from local establishments and the business sector for the City of Bacolod and our annual festival”, Bacolod Yuhum Foundation President Kayte Matiling said Wednesday, September 20.A total of 317 food kiosks were sold with 145 occupying the Bacolod Public Plaza, 99 at the Bacolod City Government Center site which will all start operating on October 7 with another 73 at the Lacson Tourism Strip on October 19-22, a Bacolod Yuhom Foundation press release said.For corporate booths, Lacson strip has the highest occupants with all 126 slots taken, while the Bacolod Public Plaza has 15 booths and the BCGC wi...

Property giant Megaworld is launching its fifth residential condominium development inside its 34-hectare The Upper East township in Bacolod City, which will be its tallest residential development among its Visayas townships to date.The 26-storey Kensington Sky Garden will be a two-tower residential development offering 643 ‘smart home’ units located at the corner of Upper East Avenue and Bentley Street, just across the newly-opened Landers Superstore.This new Megaworld residential property is envisioned to be another iconic landmark that will redefine Bacolod’s growing skyline as both towers will be highlighted by illuminated crowns that dazzle at night, a press release from Megaworld said Wednesday, September 20.The illuminated crowns of both towers will also house the glass-...

The Provincial Veterinary Office reported a P3.66 a kilo increase in the price of pork in Negros Occidental this weekThe PVO also reported a price increase of P1.39 for carabeef, and P9.41/kilo for chevon on Tuesday, September 19.The highest pork prices in the province were recorded in Pontevedra and La Carlota City at P295/kilo while the lowest was in Hinobaan at P210/kilo, the PVO report said.Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Placeda Lemana said live weight prices of hogs have also increased to P150/kilo in Calatrava, Hinobaan, and the cities of Sagay and Kabankalan, and in some LGUs with no auction market, it went up to P165/kilo.Meanwhile, the provincial veterinarian reported that only Sipalay City has been allowed to ship pigs outside of the island since they are the only LG...

Rabies cases in Negros Occidental have increased by 23 percent compared to the same period last year, a Provincial Veterinary Office report on Tuesday, September 19, showed.Rabies cases in the province this year were 13 as of August 31, or 23.07 percent higher than the 10 cases in 2022.These cases were from the cities of Bacolod, Himamaylan, San Carlos, La Carlota, Victorias, Bago, Sagay, and towns of Calatrava and Isabela.Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Placeda Lemana said the PVO has noted a low anti-rabies vaccination rate in the province as some local government units did not purchase vaccines.There are about 83,925 dogs that have been vaccinated in the province since January, or 30.62 percent of the total vaccination target, she said.Lemana is urging residents to get t...

Three suspects were arrested in buy-bust operations and P61, 200 worth of shabu was seized in two cities in Negros Occidental on Monday, September 18, the police said.John Santosidad, 24, and Jemar Gamboa, 26, were arrested with six grams of shabu worth P40,800 in Brgy. Guinhalaran, Silay City, the police said.Jayvee Porquez, 27, was also arrested with three grams of shabu worth P20,400in Brgy. II, La Carlota City, the police added.*

A 63-year-old man was stabbed dead over an alleged land dispute in Brgy. Banog-Banog, Isabela in Negros Occidental, Monday morning, September 18.Killed was Bienvenido Alvarez Legaspi Sr., 63.The suspect Rolly Basilio Alvarez, 42, surrendered to the police and reported the incident.Alvarez told the police Legaspi trespassed into his land and started cultivating it.When he called his attention, Alvarez said Legaspi attacked him and hacked him with his bolo.Alvarez then grabbed the jungle bolo of Legaspi and stabbed him twice in the body which resulted in his death, the police reported.Alvarez who was injured on his left foot, was brought to the Ignacio L. Arroyo Sr. Memorial District Hospital for immediate medical attention, the police added.*

Forty-eight vehicles have been impounded for various violations in Bacolod City from September 11 to 15, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said.Impounded were 40 traditional jeeps, two modern jeepneys, three taxis and a van.They were impounded for being unregistered, with expired Certificates of Public Convenience, unlicensed or with fraudulent documents, the Land Transportation Office reported.Meanwhile, Benitez ordered the expediting of the release of the one-time P1,000 fuel subsidy to Bacolod tricycle drivers.He said the distribution has been too slow with only 28 tricycle drivers having received the subsidy, and funds for 41 more ready for release.*

Culled piglets buried in Barangay Tangub, Bacolod City, after African swine fever hit in June.*The Bacolod City government is continuing to release financial assistance to hog raisers affected by African swine fever (ASF), which has almost wiped out the backyard swine population in Bacolod.City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III said on Tuesday, September 19, that based on records, some 842 hog raisers reported swine deaths to the city government.So far seven backyard raisers from barangays Taculing and Pahanocoy have received financial assistance totaling P102,000.“That’s the initial batch. Others are still processing their documents,” Maghari said.The aid includes P7,000 per head for breeder hogs, P5,000 per head for fattening pigs, and P3,000 per head for piglets....

Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez meeting the delegation from Tahara City at his office on Tuesday.* Bacolod PIO photoA sister city relationship between Bacolod City and Tahara City in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, has been proposed.A group from Tahara City met with Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez at the Bacolod City Government Center on Tuesday, September 19.The delegation headed by Yasuo Matsumoto and Sugiura Fujiko are asking if Bacolod is willing to enter into a sisterhood relationship, Benitez said.Benitez said Tahara City that has a population of about 60,000 is where upscale Lexus cars are manufactured.They would like to open job opportunities for caregivers, drivers, workers in agricultural plantations from Bacolod, the mayor said.Nihongo language classe...

About 200 rice retailers in Negros Occidental, including 27 from Bacolod City, will receive P15,000 each in subsidies at the Bacolod City Government Center on Thursday, September 21, Lynna Cardinal, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial head, said on Tuesday.The recipients are those who have complied with Executive Order 39 setting the price cap for well-milled rice at P45 a kilo and regular-milled rice at P41, she said.The DTI identifies the qualified recipients and the Department of Social Welfare and Development provides the funds.Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said they have monitored some retailers already selling rice at P41 a kilo in Bacolod City.FREE RICEMeanwhile, Benitez said Bacolod City distributed free 2-kilo rice packs to 256,672 Bacolod reside...