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Jun242026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

1,213 pigs valued at P14.4M die of illnesses in Negros Occidental

A biosecurity checkpoint in Sitio Dama, Barangay Cabacungan, La Castellana*A total of 1,213 pigs valued at ₱14,462,000 died in Negros Occidental from various illnesses from May 20 to June 22.The fatalities represent 4.06 percent of the province's 29,880 hog population, data furnished by Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz on Wednesday, June 24, showed.The resurgence of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Negros Occidental was confirmed by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on Tuesday, but he said he is leaving it to the mayors of the affected areas to report on their respective pig casualties.It is unknown how many of the 1,213 pig deaths were caused by ASF.The governor stressed the need for strict biosecurity protocols to prevent the spread of th...

Jun242026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

PRO NIR says police-school engagement not meant to ‘militarize’ campuses

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The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region said increased coordination between law enforcement and educational institutions should not be interpreted as the militarization of schools.In a statement issued Wednesday, June 24, PRO-NIR said police involvement is intended to support existing school safety, disciplinary, and student welfare systems.The regional police office issued the statement following the stabbing incident involving two minors outside school premises in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday.PRO-NIR said school officials remain the primary authorities responsible for discipline, student welfare, and maintaining a safe learning environment.It added that police action inside school premises should only be undertaken when necessary, in coordination...

Jun242026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

RSSI spreads to other crops, guv agrees to create provincewide task force: Coscolluela

Business, Top Stories

Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr., Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, with sugar leaders Rafael Coscolluela and Gina Martin.*Richard Malihan photoNegros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has agreed to issue an executive order creating a province-wide task force to prevent the spread of highly destructive red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI), which have now spread from sugarcane to other crops.This development was disclosed by former Negros Occidental governor Rafael Coscolluela, who currently serves as adviser to the president of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations Inc.Coscolluela, along with Gina Martin, director general of the Philippine Sugar Research Institute Foundation Inc. (PHILSURIN), and other industry stak...

Jun242026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

NegOcc registered voters slightly higher than 2025 polls

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Negros Occidental’s registered voters as of June 1 slightly exceeded the number in the 2025 elections, Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said Wednesday evening, June 24.He noted that registered regular voters for the Nov. 2 barangay elections stand at 2,016,861, compared to 2,009,564 in the May 2025 polls—a difference of 7,297.Meanwhile, registered voters for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in November total 683,285.Comelec data also showed that Bacolod City has the highest number of voters in Negros Occidental, with 361,749 registered for the regular polls and 113,994 for the SK elections.*

Jun242026 by Judy F. PartlowNo Comments

DAR to hand out land titles, debt condonation certificates to 4k ARBs

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

PNA/Joan Bondoc file photo More than 4,200 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Negros Oriental will receive land titles and Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROM) from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) during a mass distribution activity in early July, an official said Wednesday, June 24.Manuel Galon, provincial agrarian reform program officer of DAR-Negros Oriental, said 4,242 ARBs are set to benefit from the distribution scheduled at the Negros Oriental Convention Center in Dumaguete City.Of the total beneficiaries, 350 recipients of land titles and 1,150 recipients of COCROMs will attend the ceremonial turnover, while the remaining awardees will receive their documents through simultaneous releases on the same day.“The number o...

Jun242026 by Nanette GuadalquiverNo Comments

Bacolod aims to open P850M coliseum for Batang Pinoy 2026

Sports, Top Stories

Mayor Greg Gasataya is optimistic about getting the sports facilities in Bacolod ready for the city's hosting of the Batang Pinoy 2026 in December, particularly the Bacolod MassKara Coliseum.As of Wednesday, the PHP850-million indoor arena located at the boundary of Alijis and Tangub is under construction, with 76 percent completion reported this June.In a statement, Gasataya said the coliseum is expected to be completed in the third quarter of the year.“Bacolod is all in when it comes to hosting Batang Pinoy,” he said.Gasataya joined the Philippine Sports Commission officials led by Chairman John Patrick Gregorio, as well as executives from the Department of Education and Department of the Interior and Local Government, in sharing preparation updates duri...

Jun242026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

June electricity rates rise across Negros Occidental service areas

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Residential electricity rates increased in June across the service areas of Negros Power, the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative, and the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative.Negros Power posted the highest average residential rate at P13.8417 per kilowatt-hour, an increase of P2.4609 from its May rate of P11.3808 per kWh.The Northern Negros Electric Cooperative, or NONECO, increased its residential rate by P0.9458 per kWh, from P12.0159 in May to P12.9617 in June.NONECO said the increase was caused mainly by the sharp rise in WESM prices following the lifting of the temporary market price suspension.To lessen the immediate impact on consumers, NONECO secured approval for a staggered payment scheme covering its WESM bill.Under the arrangement, 50 percent of the amou...

Jun242026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

4 passengers hurt as bus swerves into canal in Bago

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Four passengers sustained minor injuries after a Vallacar Transit Inc. bus swerved into the opposite lane and fell into a concrete canal in Bago City, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday morning, June 23.Police said the road incident happened at around 9:35 a.m. along the national highway in Purok Mahidaiton, Brgy. Sampinit.The Hino bus was driven by alias “Nelo,” 29, a resident of Brgy. Tabu, Ilog.The injured passengers were identified as aliases “Ernie,” 23, “Bibi,” 21, “Lynlyn,” 20, and “Liza,” 62.Investigation by the Bago City Police Station showed that the bus was traveling from Bago City toward Bacolod City.Police said the driver stepped on the brakes upon reaching the area, but the bus suddenly swerved into the opposite lane before falling into the canal.The injure...

Jun242026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

47 police officers deployed to 5 isolated Negros barangays

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region deployed 47 police personnel to five geographically isolated barangays in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental on Wednesday, June 24.The personnel were organized into five Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay teams that will be stationed in Brgy. Pinapugasan, Escalante City, Brgy. Winaswasan, Calatrava, and Brgy. Bug-ang, Toboso, in Negros Occidental.The remaining teams will be assigned to Brgy. Budlasan, Canlaon City, and Brgy. Caigangan, Santa Catalina, in Negros Oriental.The deployment was formally launched during a send-off ceremony at Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr. in Brgy. Estefania, Bacolod City.PRO-NIR Acting Regional Director BGen. Romano Cardiño led the ceremony, which was attended by regional and provincial police offici...

Jun242026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

ASF kills more than 500 pigs in San Enrique; NegOcc deaths hit 4.06% of population – guv

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The governor directed that deceased pigs must be buried immediately with lime and affected areas must be thoroughly disinfected.*Digicast Negros file photo A resurgence of African Swine Fever (ASF) has caused the death of more than 500 pigs in San Enrique, Negros Occidental, Mayor Jilson Tubillara confirmed on Tuesday, June 23.Tubillara said that hogs in all 10 barangays in San Enrique have been affected, with the virus officially confirmed by laboratory tests on Monday.In response to the outbreak, local authorities have established pig border controls and heightened biosecurity measures to prevent the virus from spreading further.Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson confirmed on Tuesday that the ASF resurgence in Negros Occidental's, primarily in the southern part of the province...