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Two 10-year-old students drowned and two adults were killed in separate incidents in Negros Occidental on Saturday and Sunday, March 18 and 19.The 10-year-old male and female students drowned in a river at Sitio Nandong, Barangay Orong, Kabankalan City, 11:30 a.m. Saturday, the police said.Claville Brillas, officer-in-charge of Balisong Elementary School, reported to the police that the victims had attended a school family day gathering at the Orong covered court with some parents and students.After the activity ended, some of the parents and students went home on a rented cargo truck. The two victims and three companions asked to get off near the river, and she only found out later that they had gone swimming and drowned, Brillas said.Meanwhile, Raymund Perocho, 46, was fo...

Fr. Ernie Larida takes his oath was re-elected director for District IV – Bacolod East.*Two Central Negros Electric Cooperative directors were re-elected Saturday, March 18.Fr. Ernie Larida was re-elected director for District IV – Bacolod East, CENECO announced.District IV includes barangays Villamonte, Montevista, Alangilan, Granada, Estefania, Vista Alegre, Mansilingan, and Abkasa in Bacolod City.Noel Alarcon was also declared winner in District VIII, which covers Talisay City.*

Negros Occidental remains ASF-free.*Richard Malihan photoFive hundred pig blood samples collected from different hog raisers in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, tested negative for African Swine Fever (ASF), Dr. Jeff Reonal, Veterinary Services Division Chief, said.There are no recorded ASF cases in San Carlos City, he stressed.San Carlos City, through its Sangguniang Panlungsod, is pushing for the passage of an ordinance that will intensify its ASF Disease Control Program and Bantay ASF SA Barangay (BABay ASF).The SP recently held a public hearing on the proposed ordinance that will strengthen and institutionalize LGU engagement for ASF prevention and control; establish an effective ASF monitoring, surveillance, and reporting system; strengthen biosecurity measures at t...

Isabela Mayor Irene Montilla.*Mayor Irene Montilla has issued an executive order setting the guidelines for the observance of Holy Week in Isabela, Negros Occidental, from April 3 to 9.The EO states that loud sounds at the Isabela public plaza during Holy Week is strictly prohibited.Total silence shall be observed starting 3 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Maundy Thursday, she said.There should also be total silence and no selling of poultry and livestock products and trading of liquor on Good Friday, Montilla added.There will be a veneration of the cross at 3 p.m., which will be followed by procession and "duaw", she said.*

The police chief of Ilog, Negros Occidental, sustained stab wounds when he was attacked by alleged illegal gambling suspects at Kilometer 110, Brgy Dancalan, Ilog, Negros Occidental, at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 18.One suspect was killed and three others were injured, the police reported Sunday.Ilog police chief, Capt. Thurslie Castillo, who sustained stab wounds on his left leg, buttocks and right elbow was in stable condition.Castillo led an operation against a Cara y Cruz/ Hantog illegal gambling operation when five arrested suspects grappled with him, a police report said.Three of the suspects then drew bladed weapons and stabbed Castillo leaving him with no other choice but to draw his firearm and defend himself, hitting three of the suspects, the report added.Kill...

The online signature campaign of XMan Bacolod against Senate Bill 1869 and “Medical Martial Law” has gathered 1,211 signatures so far, Bacolod lawyer Andrea Si said Sunday, March 19.XMan Bacolod also sent the country’s 24 senators individual hard copies of letter petitions signed by more than 2,500 Negrosanons on March 15, with more signature forms to be sent this week, Si said.The signature campaign and the online campaign at change.org are aimed at stopping the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 1869, an act creating the Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control.Si said among the points raised in the petition are that SB 1869 provisions infringe on the right to life, liberty, property, freedom of abode, freedom to travel, right against unreasonable searches and seizures, ...

The photo of Osmeña Avenue in Bacolod City sent in by a netizen.*A complaint of a netizen about a pothole-riddled road got swift action from Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.A netizen sent DIGICAST NEGROS pictures of Osmeña Avenue in Barangay 39, Bacolod City, that is badly in need of repair.The mayor when informed of the concern directed his staff to look into the matter.The amount of P1.6 million has already been allocated for the repair of Osmeña Avenue from Araneta Street to Capitana Dicang Street, his staff said.The documents are on process.*

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson takes his oath as RPOC 6 chairperson before Judge Juvy Victoriano – Diosio on Friday.*Richard Malihan photoThe Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) will tackle the security concerns and needs of Western Visayas officials who may be facing security threats if there is a clamor for it, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Friday, March 17.Lacson took his oath as RPOC 6 chairperson before Judge Juvy Victoriano – Diosio at the provincial Capitol in Bacolod City, Friday afternoon, following his appointment to the post by President Ferdinand Marcos.There are six local chief executives in Western Visayas, one from Negros Occidental, who have allegedly been receiving threats on their lives.Lacson said he was not aware of any Negros Occidental ...