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Sep212026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

40th Negros Trade Fair opens at SMX Aura Tuesday

The 40th Negros Trade Fair (NTF) officially opens to the public at the SMX Convention Center Aura in Taguig City at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22.There will be 178 booths and 125 brands showcasing “the best of Negros in food, fashion, crafts, and more” at the fair that will run until Sunday, Sept. 27, Mary Ann Colmenares, chairperson of the 40th NTF, said Monday.This year’s theme is “Butlak,” a term that refers to the initial glow of a new day, signaling a phase of maturity and abundance for the island’s producers, Colmenares said.The NTF opening program will be at 3 p.m. with Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, and Joaquin San Agustin, SM Supermalls Executive Vice President for Marketing, delivering messages.A tribute wil...

Sep212026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Gasataya assures support for new acting election officer of Bacolod

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Negros Occidental Provincial Election Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria and Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya (l-r)* BCCO photoBacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya has assured his full support for Negros Occidental Provincial Election Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria, who has been designated concurrent acting election officer of Bacolod City.Ananoria met with Gasataya on Monday, September 21, to discuss the possible transfer of the Commission on Elections -Bacolod office to a more accessible location for the public.Ananoria commended former Election Officer Kathrina Trinio-Caña, who resigned from her post to serve as a Clerk of Court.“She has been very good, and it’s big shoes to fill, but we will continue the kind of public service she has shown,” Ananoria said.He also said th...

Sep212026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Fire hits PNP-SAF detachment in Sagay City

Police, Top Stories

A fire damaged the administration building of a Philippine National Police-Special Action Force detachment in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 19.The fire broke out at the PNP-SAF 6th Special Action Battalion detachment in Sitio Tan-ao, Brgy. Poblacion II, shortly after 5:30 p.m., the Sagay City Fire Station said.Firefighters raised the incident to second alarm as flames engulfed the building and threatened nearby properties.Fire trucks from Escalante and Cadiz cities responded to assist Sagay firefighters, along with the Lopez Sugar Corporation Fire Brigade and personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection substation in Brgy. Bato.The BFP declared the fire out at around 7 p.m.No injuries were reported in the incident.Fire investigators hav...

Sep212026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

21-year-old man shot in Cadiz City

Police, Top Stories

A 21-year-old man was shot while riding a motorcycle with a minor companion in Brgy. Mabini, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 19.Police identified the victim as Jay Roze Martisanon, a resident of Hacienda San Fiel, Brgy. Mabini.Initial investigation showed that Martisanon was driving his motorcycle with a minor companion at Hacienda San Antonio at around 3:15 p.m. when they were allegedly waylaid by the suspect, identified as Edmar Amores, 42, a tricycle driver and resident of the area.Police said Amores allegedly shot Martisanon with an undetermined firearm, hitting him in the body, before fleeing the area.The police report did not indicate the victim’s condition following the shooting.Investigators are looking into a previous heated altercat...

Sep212026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

4 nabbed, P101K shabu seized in Bacolod drug busts

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Four men were arrested and about P101,000 worth of suspected shabu was seized in separate buy-bust operations in Bacolod City from Saturday night, Sept. 19, to early Sunday, Sept. 20.The Bacolod City Police Office said the suspects were identified as aliases “Ralph,” 31, of Brgy. Vista Alegre; “Chok,” 25, of Brgy. Handumanan; “Rey,” 32, of Brgy. Taloc, Bago City; and “Jay Ivert,” 30, of Brgy. Sum-ag.Police classified the four as street-level individuals who were not listed by their respective Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils.Operatives recovered a combined 14.9 grams of suspected shabu with a standard drug price of P101,320.The first operation was conducted by Police Station 5 with support from the City Drug Enforcement Unit in Brgy. Vista Alegre at around 11 p.m. Saturday...

Sep212026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

E-bike driver shot dead in Bacolod

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A 40-year-old e-bike driver was shot and killed in Brgy. Handumanan, Bacolod City, on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 20.The Bacolod police identified the victim as alias “Rene,” a married resident of Brgy. Handumanan.Police said the shooting occurred at around 3:30 p.m. in Purok Saturn Phase 6B.Personnel of Police Station 10 responded to the area after receiving a report from a concerned citizen.Rene was rushed to a hospital for medical treatment but was declared dead by the attending physician at around 5:25 p.m.Police identified the alleged gunman as alias “Reymark,” also a resident of Brgy. Handumanan, who fled after the shooting.The motive for the killing has yet to be determined.Police Station 10 has launched a hot pursuit operation and follow-up investigation to ...

Sep212026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Sagay artist Kennette Luague wins 2026 MADE grand award for mixed media

Lifestyle, Top Stories

Sagaynon visual artist Kennette A. Luague has been named the 2026 Grand Awardee for the Featured Medium: Mixed Media category of the Metrobank Art & Design Excellence (MADE) Competition for his work “Taya” (Bet), bringing another national arts recognition home to Sagay City.The Metrobank Foundation announced on Sept. 18 that Luague was among seven artists recognized in this year’s competition, which honors emerging Filipino artists working in painting, sculpture, and mixed media, a press release from Sagay City said Monday, Sept. 21.Luague, who grew up in Brgy. Maquiling, Sagay City, has been creating art since childhood, beginning with drawing, painting, and sculptures made from materials available to him. He later joined local and national competitions while developing his pr...

Sep212026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Chiz: Decent housing through usufruct to benefit millions of low-income families

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Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has hailed the Senate’s approval on third and final reading of Senate Bill No. 2421, or the Adequate and Decent Housing Through Usufruct Act, saying the measure will provide millions of low‑income Filipinos with secure and decent homes. Escudero, chair of the Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement, said the bill institutionalizes adequate and decent housing program that allows qualified beneficiaries to occupy and use government‑owned land for residential purposes through usufruct arrangements, while the State retains ownership.“Through usufruct, families will gain the right to live in government housing without the burden of ownership costs, while ensuring transparency and legal protection through contracts registered with t...

Sep202026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

DSWD disburses over ₱410M aid to RSSI-affected sugarcane farmers in Negros, more to be released

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

The Department of Social Welfare and Development Negros Island Region has distributed ₱410,283,675 in Emergency Cash Transfers (ECT) to 39,847 sugarcane famers affected by the red-striped soft scale insects so far, DSWD NIR Regional Director Arwin Razo said Sunday, Sept. 20.More disbursements to Negros Island farmers will continue until the end of the year, Razo said.They are just waiting for the downloading of additional funds, he said, reiterating that the total disbursement could reach more than P1 billion.The RSSI damages sugarcane crops by feeding directly on the stalks and leaves, sucking out vital plant sap and causing severe nutritional depletion, the Sugar Regulatory Administration said earlier. As the insects feed, they excrete ...

Sep202026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

P6.8 million shabu seized from high-value target in Bacolod

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The seized suspected shabu.*PNP photoAbout P6.8 million worth of suspected shabu was seized from a 25-year-old man during a buy-bust operation in Bacolod City on Saturday, Sept. 19.The Bacolod City Police Office identified the suspect as alias “Jak,” a resident of Purok Fatima, Islamic Center, Brgy. 31.Police classified Macaulang as a high-value individual, although he was not listed by the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council.The BCPO City Drug Enforcement Unit conducted the operation at around noon in Purok Fatima, which resulted in the suspect's arrest.Operatives recovered around one kilogram of suspected shabu with a standard drug price of P6.8 million.The seized drugs consisted of seven sachets and 10 knot-tied transparent plastic bags containing suspected shabu, p...