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Banwahanon Awardees visual artist Larry E. Carumba and community leader Richard Jeric L. Chua* Ronnie Baldonado photoBacolod City marked its 88th Charter Day by conferring its Ang Banwahanon Awards upon visual artist Larry E. Carumba and community leader Richard Jeric L. Chua during rites held at the Bacolod City Government Center Thursday night, June 18.The Charter Day Awards Ceremony was highlighted by a keynote address from Rep. Javier Miguel "Javi" Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District), who lauded Bacolod for its  cultural resilience and thriving economy.Benitez, who chairs the House Special Committee on Creative Industries, cited Bacolod's current economic boom — noting its 7.7 percent growth rate over the past year outpaces provincial and national averages, making it on...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has appointed Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II as the officer-in-charge of the Provincial Health Office - Hospital Operations Services (PHO-HOS) in a concurrent capacity.The governor wants the provincial government hospitals to reach self-sufficiency status, Diaz said on Thursday, June 18.He added that the governor also wants health professionals and workers to be paid promptly and fairly.Lacson also wants  to ensure patients are satisfied with the facilities, equipment, and quality of healthcare services, with minimal to no cost, Diaz said.*

Lawyer Julie Ann Bedrio, head of the Provincial Environment Management Office, receives the certificate of global gratitude for Negros Occidental from Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna (3rd from left), former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. (2nd from left), and renowned environmental law advocate Antonio Oposa Jr. *PEMO photoNegros Occidental has been recognized for its conservation story titled “Municipal Waters in Harmony: Negros Occidental’s Legacy in the 7th Ramsar Site” during the Good Stories Movement 2026 awarding ceremony on Thursday, June 18.Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) head Julie Ann Bedrio received the certificate of global gratitude from Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), former Chief Justic...

A 39-year-old man was shot dead by an unidentified assailant while parking his motorcycle outside his residence in Calatrava, Negros Occidental, early Thursday, June 18.Police said the shooting happened at about 1:35 a.m. in Zone 3, Brgy. Patun-an.Investigation by the Calatrava Municipal Police Station showed that the victim had just arrived home and was parking his motorcycle when a suspect suddenly appeared and shot him from behind.The victim sustained a gunshot wound to the back of his head.Personnel of the Calatrava Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office rushed the victim to the Calatrava Municipal Hospital, where he was declared dead.The suspect, described as wearing a black bull cap and a brown jacket, immediately fled after the attack.Police recovered ...

A 59-year-old fisherman went missing after  lightning  hit a fish cage area off the waters of Brgy. Central Tabao, Valladolid, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday night, June 17.Police identified the victim as a widower and resident of Purok Bansa, Brgy. Central Tabao.The victim and a fellow fisherman went to their fish cage, locally known as a “tangaban,” at about 7 p.m., Valladolid  police investigation showed.The victim's companion said  a lightning strike suddenly occurred while they were at the fish cage.The companion sought cover for safety but later noticed that the victim was no longer in the area.He attempted to locate the victim but was unsuccessful due to strong water currents.The fisherman returned to shore and sought assistance from auth...

A teacher and a laborer died in separate motorcycle crashes in Negros Occidental  Wednesday night,  June 17.In Ilog, a 26-year-old teacher was killed in a head-on collision between two motorcycles along the national highway in Crossing Biaren, Brgy. Manalad at about 8:43 p.m.Police identified the fatality as “Vince,” a teacher at Kabankalan Catholic College and an SK Chairperson of Brgy. Yao-yao, Cauayan.Investigation by the Ilog Municipal Police Station showed that the victim was riding a Yamaha Sniper motorcycle toward Cauayan when another motorcycle, driven by a 29-year-old man identified as “Jun,” allegedly entered his lane while attempting to overtake an unidentified vehicle.The maneuver resulted in a head-on collision that injured both drivers.The victi...