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Jun302026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

30 volcanic quakes recorded in Kanlaon Tuesday, no new crater glow seen

No crater glow was seen at Kanlaon Volcano on Monday evening but 30 volcanic earthquakes were recorded on Tuesday, June 30.A faint crater glow was seen at the volcano 3:40 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. Monday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported earlier. Daryll Arro, Science Research Analyst at the Phivolcs Kanlaon Observatory in La Carlota, said the faint crater glow was not seen on Monday evening and Tuesday morning.However, from 12 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday 30 volcanic earthquakes were recorded at Kanlaon, Phivolcs reported.Arro said it is a sign that the volcanic activity is continuing.Mari-Andylene Quintia, Phivolcs resident volcanologist, earlier said that the crater glow usua...

Jun302026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

PhilHealth, Benitez join forces to accredit 18 barangay health stations as YAKAP clinics

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Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo "Albee" Benitez (third from left) with PhilHealth representatives on Monday.*The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo "Albee" Benitez have joined forces to accelerate the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Program in Bacolod City.Marjorie A. Cabrieto, Regional Vice President of PhilHealth Regional Office VI, met with Benitez on Monday, June 30, to map out strategic initiatives aimed at expanding healthcare access for all Bacolodnons.A major breakthrough of the discussion was a shared commitment to pursue the accreditation of 18 Barangay Health Stations as functional YAKAP Clinics.This expansion is designed to bring pri...

Jun302026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Manhunt underway after gun, ammo seized in Isabela raid

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Police recovered an unlicensed firearm and ammunition during the implementation of a search warrant in Isabela, Negros Occidental, on Sunday, June 28.The operation was conducted at the residence of alias “Ray,” 35, in Sitio Sumilang, Brgy. Cansalongon.Police said the suspect was not present during the search and remains at large.Authorities recovered a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver, four rounds of .38 caliber ammunition, and a black sling bag from the premises.The Isabela Municipal Police Station reported that the search warrant was issued following complaints from residents that the suspect allegedly carried and brandished the firearm in public, particularly when intoxicated.Residents also claimed that he habitually brought the firearm...

Jun302026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

PRO-NIR seizes P4.7M shabu, arrests 97 wanted persons in weeklong operations

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The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region seized P4.73 million worth of suspected shabu and arrested 97 wanted persons during operations conducted from June 22 to 28.PRO-NIR said 695.87 grams of suspected shabu were confiscated in 41 anti-illegal drug operations.A total of 47 individuals were arrested in the drug operations.Police also conducted 29 operations against illegal gambling, resulting in the arrest of 49 individuals and the confiscation of P7,746 in alleged gambling money.In operations against wanted persons, police arrested 22 most wanted persons and 75 other wanted individuals.PRO-NIR also reported 18 operations against loose firearms.Seven firearms were confiscated while 13 others were surrendered during the period.Police units across the regi...

Jun302026 by Judy F. PartlowNo Comments

Search on for missing flood victim in NegOr as 2 towns suspend classes

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Coast Guard personnel scour areas along a river in Barangay Maloh, Siaton, Negros Oriental on Monday afternoon after a 66-year-old male was reported missing.* Photo courtesy of Coast Guard Station Negros OrientalThe Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Negros Oriental on Tuesday, June 30, intensified its search and rescue operations for an elderly man who went missing after being swept away by flash floods in Barangay Maloh, Siaton.Lt. Senior Grade Marionne Abigail Enopia, commander of the Coast Guard Station Negros Oriental, said search teams have expanded their operations to nearby coastal areas, including the waters off the adjacent town of Zamboanguita and Siaton."Our personnel are conducting search operations at sea while other responders, together with local disaster r...

Jun302026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Ledesma calls for massive scale-up of ‘Nature’s Army’: A biological defense to save sugarcane Industry

Business, Top Stories

Rep. Julio A. Ledesma IV (Neg. occ., 1st District) is calling for a massive, coordinated scaling of biological control measures to defend the country’s embattled sugar industry against the devastating impacts of the Red Stripped Soft-Scale Insects (RSSI).Ledesma, who chairs the House Committee on Science and Technology, on Tuesday, June 30, issued a rallying cry to mobilize what he terms "Nature’s Army"—a multi-pronged biological warfare strategy utilizing native predators, parasites, and fungi to suppress the pest populations that are currently threatening planters' livelihoods.“The Filipino sugar planter is under siege. RSSI has weakened his crop, increased his costs, and threatened his livelihood. But let us not count him out,” Ledesma said."The challenge before ...

Jun302026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

42 new police lieutenants deployed across Negros Island Region

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region welcomed 42 newly commissioned police lieutenants who will be assigned to different units across the region.The officers are members of the Philippine National Police Academy “Silang-Paglaom” Class of 2026.They were formally received during a courtesy call and send-off ceremony at Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr. in Brgy. Estefania, Bacolod City, on Monday, June 29.PRO-NIR Regional Director PBGen. Romano Cardiño led the ceremony.Of the 42 officers, 10 will be assigned to the Bacolod City Police Office, 10 to the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, 13 to the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, two to the Siquijor Police Provincial Office, and seven to the Regional Mobile Force Battalion.PRO-NIR said the deploym...

Jun302026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

2 arrested, P170,000 shabu seized in Victorias buy-bust

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Police arrested two individuals and seized P170,000 worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Victorias City, Negros Occidental on Monday night, June 29.The suspects were identified as aliases “Jessie” and “Lavilla,” both 33 and residents of Brgy. 6-A.Personnel of the Victorias City Police Station’s drug enforcement team conducted the operation at around 9:50 p.m. in Zone 1-A, Villa Miranda.Police said alias Jessie allegedly handed a sachet of suspected shabu to an undercover officer in exchange for the buy-bust money.Authorities recovered about 25 grams of suspected shabu during the operation.The seized drug evidence was brought to the Negros Occidental Provincial Forensic Unit for laboratory examination.The suspects are under police custody while com...

Jun302026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

P52,000 worth of equipment stolen from Kabankalan classroom recovered

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Police recovered more than P52,000 worth of equipment allegedly stolen from a classroom at Hilamonan Elementary School in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.The theft was discovered on Saturday, June 27, after the complainant found that the window grills and jalousies of the classroom’s comfort room had been forcibly damaged.Among the missing items were an Acer Aspire Go 15 laptop with charger valued at P43,000, a laptop bag, laminator, external hard drive, power bank, extension wire, and two computer mice.The stolen items had an estimated total value of P52,210.The incident was reported to the Kabankalan City Police Station on Monday afternoon, June 29.Police said the complainant later received information that a laptop was being offered for sale.An investigator co...

Jun292026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Kabankalan mayor to seek state of calamity over insect infestation, pig deaths

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Kabankalan Mayor Benjie Miranda discusses the RSSI infestation in his city with SRA Administrator Paul Azcona.*SRA photoMayor Benjie Miranda on Monday, June 29, said he will recommend that the Kabankalan Sangguniang Panlungsod declare a state of calamity due to red striped soft-scale insect (RSSI) attacks on sugarcane farms and the death of pigs in his city.Miranda, who attended an RSSI forum held by the United Sugar Producers Federation and the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) at Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay, said the Kabankalan City government will support SRA’s efforts to curb the spread of RSSI, including the aerial spraying of insecticides.Meanwhile, he noted that the cause of the pig deaths in his city has not yet been determined.An SRA report as of F...