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The water container where the boy drowned in Sipalay City.*A 2-year-old boy drowned in a water container in Barangay Nabulao, Sipalay City in Negros Occidental, on Tuesday morning, October 18.Dionilo Bogtae, Sipalay City Rescue Unit head, said the child's father left the boy to attend to his other child who was crying.He did not notice that the boy was playing near the water container.It is possible that the child stepped into the bucket full of water, he said.The child was already dead when he was brought to the hospital.*

Carabalan residents returning to their homes.*photo courtesy of Mayor Raymund TongsonThere were 163 families with 669 individuals left in five evacuation centers in Himamaylan City on Tuesday, October 18, Provincial Administrator Rafrando Diaz said.The 669 evacuees are from Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan.Thousands of residents of the barangay had evacuated when armed clashes between government and rebel forces began on October 6, and were given the go signal to return home on October 15.Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the situation in Carabalan is slowly normalizing.So far the situation on the ground is improving, Himamaylan Mayor Raymund Tongson also said.*

The area where a man was found dead in Barangay Granada.*A construction worker was found dead in front of a school at Crossing Carmen, Barangay Granada, Bacolod City, on Tuesday morning, October 18.The fatality was identified as 21-year-old Erwin Abitong, who succumbed to a lone stab wound to the chest.Capt. John Christopher Masangkay, Police Station 5 chief, said the unidentified suspect may have been monitoring the victim’s whereabouts.He said they have yet to establish the motive for the killing, but the victim’s family claimed that he received threats through messages on his Facebook messenger in September.The police also said that the victim’s family claimed he had no enemies and no criminal record.Investigation is still ongoing.*

It will be a long holiday for all with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declaring October 31 a special non-working holiday.Marcos signed Proclamation No. 79 on Tuesday, October 18, declaring Monday, October 31, as a special non-working holiday.November 1, which falls on a Tuesday, is also a special non-working day, according to Proclamation 1236 inked by former president Rodrigo Duterte.November 2 is a special working day.Meanwhile, Proclamation 72 declared Friday, November 4, as a special non-working day in San Carlos City.*

Lucille Gelvolea, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando P. Diaz, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Benitez, Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, and Valerie Anne Hollero (l-r) during the contract signing.*Four pro-bono Bacolod City consultants, three of whom are Negros Occidental provincial government executives, signed their contracts with the Bacolod City government represented by Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Tuesday, October 18.The three Capitol executives are Provincial Economic Enterprise Development Division head Lucille Gelvolea - consultant for Special Projects and Economic Affairs, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando P. Diaz - consultant for Administrative Matters and System Review, and Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital chief, Dr. Mary Ann P. Maestral, consultant for Health and Hospital Co...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Tuesday, October 18, that there is no need to declare a provincewide cholera outbreak since the 12 positive cases and two deaths from the water-borne disease are concentrated in the 3rd District of Negros Occidental only.The affected local government units are doing their best to control the situation, and are focusing on ensuring that the water in their refilling stations are safe, he said.Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said all the affected local government units have already started surveying and testing water sources.Silay City had five confirmed cholera cases with one death, EB Magalona - four cases with one death, Talisay City – two cases and Victorias City – one case, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, Negros Occide...

Negros Occidental has total assets of P18.025 billion, the COA said.*Ronnie Baldonado photoNegros Occidental is the sixth richest province in the country and the the wealthiest in Western Visayas, the Commission on Audit’s 2021 Annual Financial Report on Local Governments shows.The COA said Negros Occidental has total assets of P18.025 billion making it the sixth richest province.Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Tuesday, October 18, that the number six ranking gives a very good picture of Negros Occidental and hopefully it will bolster more investments in the province.It will help boost investor confidence in Negros Occidental, he said.Lacson said he does not know how Negros Occidental was ranked the sixth wealthiest province in the country. The province is National Tax...

The crowd at the just concluded MassKara sa Panaad.*Richard Malihan photoNegros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Tuesday, October 18, that it is feasible to open the town and city pavilions at the Panaad Park in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, to the public once every month starting next year.“If ever we will do that we’ll start with once a month and let’s test the waters to decide if we will make it once a week,” Lacson said.Lacson said Negros Occidental was happy to have joined the celebration of the MassKara Festival through the just concluded MassKara sa Panaad at the Panaad Park.“It gave the LGUs a picture of their readiness for the main event of the Panaad in April 2023,” he said.The Panaad sa Negros Festival has not been held for two years because ...