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The warning sign at Barangay Mambaroto, Sipalay City.* CDRRMO photoMultiple cracks have deepened and soil erosion has increased at a mountain slope at Camp Valdez, Barangay Mambaroto in Sipalay City.The area has been cordoned off to ensure the public's safety and a warning sign is up, Dionilo Bogtae, Sipalay City Disaster Risk Reduction Management coordinator, said on Tuesday, October 21.A landslide prone area sign on the side of the highway warns motorists and passersby that falling soil and rocks could occur in the area, especially during heavy rain or earthquakes.A geo-hazard assessment conducted by the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau-Negros Island Region together with the Sipalay Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) team on October 18 confirmed the presen...

The SUV involved in the crash.*Two died while three others, including a tricycle driver, were injured in a vehicular collision at the intersection of B.S. Aquino Drive and Gatuslao Street, Brgy. 3, Bacolod City, early Tuesday morning, Oct. 21.A black Toyota Fortuner driven by a minor from Sitio Marta, Masulog, La Castellana, Negros Occidental, was traveling from south to north when it collided with a black Kawasaki Barako tricycle driven by Openiano Ayco Jr. of Purok Tumpok, Zone 15, Talisay City, the police reported.The impact left two tricycle passengers, Cheralyn Poja and Redilla Gamgam, dead on the spot, while driver Ayco and passengers Crislyn Joy Poja and Roda Tipon sustained injuries and were brought to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital.The v...

Flooding in Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City, recently.* BFP photoA multi-sectoral Pre-Flood Summit spearheaded by Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Monday, October 20, pinpointed critical issues causing severe flooding in Bacolod City, including heavy river siltation, widespread illegal encroachments, and the lack of a unified flood control master plan.The preparatory meeting attended by representatives from multisectoral groups and national government agencies as well as Bacolod City officials at L’Fisher Hotel, established the urgent data-driven groundwork needed to formulate comprehensive, long-term solutions at a forthcoming Flood Summit, a press statement from Councilor Caesar Distrito, spokesman of Benitez, said on Tuesday.Benitez, in his speech, highlighted the ...

The massive clearing and desilting of the Mandalagan River in Bacolod is now underway with the deployment of the Amphibious Dredger provided by the Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Office, Bacolod Mayor Greg Gastaya said on Tuesday, Oct. 21.The Mandalagan River serves as the main catchment for eight tributary creeks from barangays Mandalagan, Estefania, Bata, Villamonte, Montevista, and 1, Gasataya said in a Facebook page post.“When the river is restored, it will have an immediate impact in reducing risks of water build-up in a large portion of Bacolod City, especially in the north,“ he said.“This was our commitment last August - an intensive effort of the City to restore and rehabilitate the full capacity of the Mandalagan River and safeguard nearby areas durin...

The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) confiscated P10,987,603.20 worth of suspected shabu in operations versus illegal drugs during the MassKara Festival from October 1 to 19.The BCPO Comprehensive Anti-Illegal Drugs Report stated that 23 operations were conducted during the 19-day celebration, leading to the arrest of 34 individuals involved in illegal drug activities across the city.Police operatives seized 1,615.824 grams of suspected shabu worth P10.9 million, the report said.Col. Joeresty P. Coronica, BCPO director, lauded the efforts of all operating units for maintaining a safe and drug-free celebration amid the city’s festivities.The successful operations reflected the strong coordination between the police, community, and local government in ensuring public safety ...

DOST NIR officials Reinhold Jex Abing, Joel Legaspi, Rowen Gelonga and Glady Reyes and Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Irene Bel Ploteña (l-r) at a press conference at the Negros Residences in Bacolod on Tuesday.* Barbara Mijares photoThe Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is urging local government units (LGUs) to adopt science-based solutions to build resilient, smarter, and safer communities, which will be showcased during the Handa Pilipinas - Visayas Leg hosted by Negros Occidental at the SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City from Oct. 27 to 29.In a press launch at the Negros Residences in Bacolod City on Tuesday, DOST - Negros Island Region Director Rowen Gelonga said through Handa Pilipinas, DOST and its partner agencie...

A drug den was dismantled and three high-value targets were arrested in a joint buy-bust operation conducted in Purok 1, Brgy. 7, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, Sunday morning, Oct. 19.Arrested were alias “Mark,” 35, of Brgy. 7; alias “Cherrylyn,” 37, of Brgy. 2; and alias “Richard,” 33, of Brgy. Talubangi in Kabankalan City.The operation was carried out by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office-Negros Island Region (RO-NIR) Regional Special Enforcement Team, together with the PDEA Negros Occidental Provincial Office, Kabankalan City Police Station, and the Coast Guard Intelligence Unit Southern Negros Occidental.Seized from the operation were ten sachets of suspected shabu weighing approximately 17 grams, with an estimated market value of over P1...

Some of the PHP178.57 million worth of machinery and equipment distributed by the Department of Agriculture - Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization in Negros Occidental on Tuesday .* Bago PIO photoThe Department of Agriculture - Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) turned over PHP178.57 million worth of machinery and equipment to 24 farmers cooperatives and associations (FCAs) and local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental on Tuesday, Oct. 21.The assistance, sourced from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) 2024-2025 allocation, aims to enhance farm productivity, reduce production costs, and improve the overall competitiveness of rice farmers in the province.Speaking at the turnover held in...

The Negros Occidental provincial government temporarily suspended its clearing of volcanic debris from Ibid Creek in La Castellana town since Monday, Oct. 20, due to heavy rain.They are also still searching for a new site for the volcanic materials removed from the creek, Irene Bel Ploteña, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) - Negros Occidental, said on Tuesday, Oct. 21.The operation has so far cleared 3,000 cubic meters of debris, out of a target of 28,000 cubic meters, Ploteña said.She said the designated areas in the Mount Kanlaon Natural Park for depositing the debris are already full, necessitating the search for another site.Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) - Negros Island Region is continuing its...