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 The power supply shortage problem in the Visayas has returned as the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) issued Red and Yellow alerts for the Visayas grid on Tuesday, October 20, citing an insufficient operating reserve and supply deficit caused by multiple power plant outages.The NGCP reported that the Visayas grid currently has an available capacity of 2,468 MW against a projected peak demand of 2,545 MW.A total of 685 MW remains unavailable to the grid as a result of forced outages and derated operating capacities across multiple generation facilities.Key contributing factors behind the supply shortage include the unavailability of major Visayas coal plants, specifically forced outages at Panay Energy Development Corporation Unit 3 (PEDC 3) and KEPCO SP...

Dengue-related deaths in the Negros Island Region have reached 36, even as overall infections dropped by 18 percent this year, the Department of Health NIR reported Tuesday, Oct. 20.A  total of 6,406 dengue cases were recorded between January 1 and October 10,  down from the 7,859 cases reported during the same period in 2025.School-aged children and adolescents remain the most vulnerable demographic, comprising the vast majority of both infections and fatalities across the region, the report said. Overall, males accounted for a slightly higher proportion of cases than females at 3,355 (52 percent  compared to 3,051 (48 percent), it added.The DOH report said demographic tracking reveals that school-aged children aged 6 to 10 years old comprised the highe...

Police arrested 26 drug suspects and seized an estimated P1.14 million worth of suspected shabu in a series of anti-illegal drug operations across Negros Occidental from Oct. 12 to 18.The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO ) said its units conducted 21 anti-drug operations during the seven-day period.A total of 167.7 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of P1,140,360 were confiscated.Aside from the anti-drug campaign, NOCPPO arrested 31 wanted persons during the same period.Five of them were listed as most wanted persons and were arrested in five separate operations, while 26 other wanted persons were apprehended in 26 operations.Police also arrested 43 persons in 13 anti-illegal gambling operations and confiscated P4,506 in all...

Food park operations at the Bacolod City Public Plaza and the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) grounds generated a combined ₱21,504,187 in sales from October 1 to 18, surpassing the ₱17.06 million recorded across the two major festival sites during  MassKara Festival 2025.Based on consolidated reports submitted by participating concessionaires, the 2026 sales total represents an increase of ₱4.44 million, or approximately 26.1 percent, over last year’s figures, despite covering one day less, Gugma Foundation reported  Tuesday, Oct. 20. The Bacolod City Public Plaza recorded ₱12,355,582 in total sales, up from approximately ₱11.87 million in 2025.Meanwhile, the BCGC grounds generated ₱9,148,605, compared with ₱5.19 million last year.The BCGC grounds poste...

Rodney Mitz Ascalon and Allen V. del Carmen (right)* Ronnie Baldonado photoVeteran journalist and mentor Allen V. del Carmen was honored with the MassKara Legacy Award during the MassKara Media Appreciation Night at the SMX Convention Center in  Bacolod City on Monday, Oct. 19.Del Carmen was recognized for his decades of  “writing, teaching, mentorship, and service to journalism”.Having mentored hundreds of journalists across various universities, newsrooms, and writing workshops, his work has helped shape the character of reporting in Western Visayas and Negros Island.It’s been my dream to give young people the chance to pursue journalism education," he explained.“I chose to return after earning my Master of Science in Journalism from the University of Illin...

Performers at the Pinta Flores media night.*Ronnie Baldonado photo The Pinta Flores Festival 2026 will bring a series of cultural presentations, entertainment shows, competitions, fitness activities, and community events to San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, from Tuesday,  Oct. 20 to Nov. 5.Organized by the City Government of San Carlos in partnership with the Pinta Flores Foundation, the festival will feature activities leading up to its major celebrations on November 4 and 5, a press release from the city government said Tuesday.The festival calendar opened Tuesday, October 20, with the Pinta Flores Media Night, followed by a free dog and cat spay and neuter activity on October 21 and 22 at the City Auditorium.On October 23, the city will host the Tour de Cebu “World’s O...

 Transport unions and commuter advocacy groups in Negros Island in a statement Tuesday, Oct. 20, jointly expressed strong opposition to a new partnership between the World Bank and the Department of Transportation (DOTr), accusing both entities of peddling “false reforms” under the ongoing Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).Led by the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center–Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (UNDOC-PISTON) and the Kabacod Negros Transport Organization (KNETCO), alongside broad consumer and commuter networks under Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Negros, the coalition warned that the initiative threatens the livelihoods of local transport workers while paving the way for corporate dominance over public transit.Unde...