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One of the PRC built homes*PRC photoThe Philippine Red Cross - Negros Occidental Bacolod Chapter has begun constructing homes for disaster-affected families in Barangay Biaknabato, La Castellana, and Barangay Inolingan, Moises Padilla, in  Negros Occidental.Punong Barangay Joselito Martinez Jr. of Biaknabato said on Friday, Oct. 23, that 106 families in their village are receiving housing assistance from the Red Cross. Many of these residents lost their homes when Typhoon Tino struck in November 2025.Other beneficiaries include families previously residing within the 4-kilometer permanent danger zone of Mt. Kanlaon, as well as those relocated from the 10-to-20-meter river easement zones.According to Martinez, each beneficiary received ₱60,000 for construction material...

The Land Transportation Office-Negros Island Region issued a show cause order.*LTO photoThe Land Transportation Office-Negros Island Region has issued a show cause order against a motorcycle rider who went viral after arguing with a traffic enforcer who stopped him for allegedly riding without a helmet in Calatrava, Negros Occidental.The incident happened on Tuesday, Oct. 20, and was recorded in a video uploaded by the rider on social media.In the video, the rider questioned why he was being stopped when other motorcycle riders without helmets were allegedly allowed to pass.He also argued that there was no approved law or ordinance in Calatrava requiring motorcycle riders to wear helmets.The rider later called his father, who also confronted the traffic enforcer while ...

Mayor Greg Gasataya officially kicked off the city’s new Community-Based Flood Early Warning System project Thursday, October 22, as part of the city’s ongoing work to strengthen disaster preparedness.The project is designed to give communities earlier, more reliable flood warnings through better technology. It will be rolled out across 19 locations, with plans to install 33 monitoring and warning devices and 12 smart switches in barangay halls, gyms, schools, and other key sites, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said Friday.The system will use automated rain gauges, weather stations, water-level and air-quality monitors, and warning sirens loud enough — up to 130 decibels — to be heard clearly in the community. Data will feed into a unified onli...

The Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) officially launched its school safety initiative, CAMPUSAYA, at Rafael B. Lacson Memorial High School in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, Friday, Oct. 23.. The campaign aims to prevent school violence, address online threats, and foster a safe, supportive learning environment for students across the region.The event was led by PRO NIR Regional Director PBGen, Rudecindo L. Reales and Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOcPPO) Provincial Director PCcol. Dennis C. Wenceslao.They were joined by key education, police, and community leaders, including Schools Division Superintendent Gladys Amylaine D. Sales, NAPOLCOM Provincial Officer Kyle Xyra C. Valenzuela, school principal Dr. Marie Rose E. Pregua, parent-tea...

Two men were arrested and about 60 grams of suspected shabu worth P408,000 were seized during a buy-bust operation in Brgy. Tagukon, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 22.Police identified the suspects only  as aliases “Tata,” 42, unemployed, and “Ali,” 73, a farmer. Both are residents of Purok Paghidaet in Brgy. Tagukon.The operation was conducted by the Kabankalan City Police Station Drug Enforcement Team at around 5:30 p.m.Police said one of the suspects allegedly handed a sachet of suspected shabu to a poseur-buyer in exchange for buy-bust money.Authorities reported recovering 20 sachets containing about 59 grams of suspected shabu with a standard drug price of P401,200 from one suspect.Also recovered were a 9mm revolver loaded with fi...

A 26-year-old mechanic died after he accidentally came into contact with a live power line at a construction site in Brgy. Talacdan, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 22.Police identified the victim only as alias “Romel,” a tire man and mechanic from Brgy. Tinampaan, Cadiz City.The incident happened at around 3 p.m. in Sitio Binacay.Initial investigation showed that the victim was working for GKMM Construction Supplies Inc., which was undertaking construction work in the area.Police said a self-loading boom truck being moved or towed by an excavator accidentally hit an overhead electrical distribution line.The victim reportedly tried to lift or clear the wire using a rope so the equipment could pass underneath.He accidentally made direct contact w...

NFA palay buying in Cauayan, Negros Occidental.*NFA photoThe National Food Authority (NFA) in Negros Occidental has intensified its palay procurement program to bolster its  dwindling buffer stock, an official said Thursday, Oct. 22.NFA Negros Occidental Branch Manager Cherrybeth Gevero said  their rice  buffer stock has critically dropped to  one-day supply, far below the agency’s mandated 15-day reserve.To rebuild the stock, the NFA aims to procure 100,000 bags of palay in Negros Occidental this year."We are encouraging more farmers to sell their palay to the NFA to help us secure sufficient buffer stocks," Gevero said, emphasizing that reserves are vital during disasters and emergencies.The agency currently buys clean, dry palay with 11 percent to...

Comelec Negros Island Region Director Lionel Marco Castillano*The Commission on Elections  is gearing up to resume voter registration should  the Supreme Court uphold the law postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to November 2028, Comelec Negros Island Region Director Lionel Marco Castillano said Thursday, Oct. 22.Read more: https://digicastnegros.com/sc-ruling-to-decide-if-comelec-resumes-voter-registration-or-coc-filing/The postponement stems from a newly signed law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which extends the term of barangay officials to five years and moves the previously scheduled Nov. 2, 2025 elections to November 2028.Castillano said election officials are currently waiting for the High Tribunal's decision on a petition ...

Dengue is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes.*Dengue-related fatalities in Negros Occidental have climbed to 23 as total infections reached 4,208,  the Provincial Health Office (PHO) reported Thursday, Oct. 22.The figures from January 4 to October 17 show an overall drop of 17.57 percent or 879 fewer cases compared to the 5,105 cases reported during the same period in 2025, the PHO said.All 31 LGUs across the province have registered dengue cases, with each reporting at least 11 suspected cases to date.Health authorities continue to monitor local government units (LGUs) as mosquito-borne infections persist.  Based on the latest PHO report the  areas in Negros Occidental with the ...