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Jun52026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Crackdown on loose firearms, drugs nets two suspects in separate Negros raids

The arrest in Pamplona, Negros Oriental,* PRO NIR photoSearch warrant operations conducted by police led to the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of unlicensed firearms, ammunition, and illegal drugs in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, the Philippine National Police Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) reported Friday, June 5.In Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, joint operatives from the Cadiz City Police Station, Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOcPPO), and the Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU NIR) raided a residence in Hacienda Tagud, Barangay Luna, on Thursday, June 4.The operation, launched by virtue of a search warrant for violations of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act), resulted in the arrest of a 41-year-old construct...

Jun52026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Classes start Monday, come prepared: DepEd

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The Department of Education (DepEd) is urging students to come prepared on Monday, June 8, for the opening day of classes in public schools.This school year will also mark the start of the implementation of the three-term school calendar, Almy Caezar Dequiña, spokesperson for the DepEd Negros Island Region (NIR), said.Dequiña said while school uniforms are not strictly required, students must still adhere to the official dress code.As of Thursday, June 4, the DepEd Quick Count showed 443,884 learners enrolled from kindergarten to senior high school across the NIR, though that number is expected to increase, Dequiña said.He said that while the official enrollment period ended on Friday, schools will still accept late enrollees next week.*

Jun52026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

UK climate envoy leads charge for resilience at NegOcc Environment Month opening

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The participants at the opening of Negros Occidental’s 34th Provincial Environment Month.* Capitol photoStrengthening climate action and advancing sustainable development partnerships are critical to building long-term ecological sustainability.This was the central message of British Embassy Manila Economic and Climate Counselor Lloyd Cameron, who was the keynote speaker at the opening of Negros Occidental’s 34th Provincial Environment Month on Friday, June 5. Cameron highlighted ongoing international and local collaborative efforts in environmental protection, focusing heavily on strategic frameworks for building climate-resilient communities and supporting grassroots initiatives throughout the province.The month-long celebration, officially spearheade...

Jun52026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Negros Occidental safely disposes of tons of decades-old hospital waste

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Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said that 7.99 metric tons of infectious waste materials were removed from the septic vaults, pathologic vaults, and infectious waste facility of the Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital (LZDH) in Kabankalan City on Thursday and Friday.This is part of the provincial government’s ongoing efforts to ensure the safe disposal of decades of infectious waste accumulated at its various hospitals, he said.Diaz said that the province had already disposed of 243.81 metric tons of infectious waste materials from the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, the Cadiz District Hospital in Cadiz City and LZDH between December 2025 and February 2026.The next facility slated for clean-up is the Don Salvador Benedicto Memorial District Hospi...

Jun52026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

DTI Negros Occidental releases school supplies price guide

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Parents buying school supplies in Bacolod City.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe Department of Trade and Industry-Negros Occidental has released the “Gabay sa Pamimili ng School Supplies” to guide consumers in buying school supplies for the opening of classes.DTI said the price guide aims to help parents, guardians, and students make informed choices as they prepare for the upcoming school year.Based on the guide for school year 2026-2027, writing notebooks and composition notebooks with 80 leaves and 148mm x 200mm size range from P13 to P52.Spiral notebooks range from P14 to P49, while yarn notebooks range from P14 to P47.Grade pad paper ranges from P13 to P37, while intermediate pad paper ranges from P22 to P69.75.Pencils range from P12 to P18 per piece and P15 to P24 ...

Jun52026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Fernando, Go rule JPGT Bacolod

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Mhark Fernando III at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club on Friday.*Pilipinas Golf photoZamboagueño Mhark Fernando III secured the ICTSI Bacolod Junior PGT Championship, beating local favorite Eddie Gonzales Jr. by one stroke at Bacolod Golf and Country Club on Friday, June 5.He carded a 73 for a 154 total, while Gonzales posted a 71 to finish at 155.“I stayed patient and just played my game. When the situation got tough, I didn't force things," Fernando, the son of a former national champion and touring pro, said in a news release.“After I double-bogeyed the 10th, I got nervous, but I just calmed myself down, focused on hitting fairways and greens, and settled for two-putts,” he added.Fernando locked down a crucial 15 points, hiking his total to 33. He jumped from joint...

Jun52026 by Joann VillanuevaNo Comments

Yellow alert up for Visayas grid anew

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Another yellow alert status was issued on Friday for the Visayas grid, effective from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., amid high demand and limited capacity.In an advisory, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said the grid’s available capacity is around 2,608 megawatts (MW), but peak demand is projected to rise to 2,379MW.A yellow alert is issued when a grid’s operating margin is insufficient against contingency requirements, which, for the Visayas, has been affected by the continued forced outage of major coal-fired power plants, namely units 1 and 2 of the Therma Visayas Inc. (TVI) and unit 3 of the Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC).The NGCP reported that, as of this month, eight power plants are on forced outage. Another eight plants have been offline si...

Jun52026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Bacolod cops nab high value drug suspect, seize P2.58M in shabu

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A high-value individual was arrested after authorities seized more than P2.5 million worth of suspected shabu in a buy-bust operation in Bacolod City on Friday, June 5.Police identified the suspect as Albert Alulod, alias “Pol,” 42, unemployed, and a resident of Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod City.The operation was conducted by the Bacolod City Police Office City Drug Enforcement Unit at around 12:24 p.m. in Purok Malipayon, Brgy. 12.Police said Alulod was arrested after he allegedly handed over a sachet of suspected shabu to a poseur-buyer in exchange for P1,000 buy-bust money.Recovered from the suspect were about 380 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of P2,584,000.Authorities said the recovered items included six heat-sealed sachets of suspected ...

Jun52026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

NIR posts lowest inflation outside NCR in May

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The Negros Island Region posted the lowest inflation rate among areas outside the National Capital Region in May 2026, even as its rate increased from the previous month, the Philippine Statistics Authority said.Based on PSA data released Friday, June 5, NIR’s inflation rose to 5.4 percent in May from 4.8 percent in April.Despite the increase, NIR remained below the national inflation rate, which eased to 6.8 percent in May from 7.2 percent in April.It was also lower than the 7.1 percent inflation rate recorded in areas outside NCR.Among Visayas regions, NIR had the lowest inflation rate in May, followed by Western Visayas at 6.8 percent, Eastern Visayas at 8.2 percent, and Central Visayas at 10.8 percent.PSA said Central Visayas recorded the highest inflation rate in t...

Jun42026 by Mary Judaline PartlowNo Comments

DTI monitors school supplies to prevent overpricing

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A team from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Oriental inspects prices of goods and other commodities at a major retail outlet in Dumaguete City.*DTI photo The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Oriental is closely monitoring big retail stores in the province to ensure that prices of school supplies and other commodities remain at acceptable levels, an official said Thursday, June 4.Krystle Jade Bato, DTI spokesperson and officer-in-charge of the Consumer Protection Division, said in a media interview that they have teams visiting these retail outlets and keeping track of the prices of school supplies.“As early as April, we already started our monitoring and surveillance of Balik Eskwela items, such as notebooks, ballpens, pencils, and oth...