Top Stories

Sep12026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Sagarbarria warns public vs. fake Facebook account using her name

Rep. Ma. Isabel “Maisa” Sagarbarria (Neg. Or., 2nd District) has warned the public against a fake Facebook account using her name and identity to allegedly solicit personal information.In an advisory, Sagarbarria said she discovered an account posing as her and sending messages offering supposed free mobile load worth P2,000 to selected individuals.The message allegedly asked recipients to provide their mobile phone numbers and send back a code received on their phones for supposed verification.Sagarbarria denied being behind the account and clarified that she was not offering free loads through social media.She said she only maintains her official Facebook account under “Maisa Sagarbarria” and her official page, “Ma. Isabel ‘MAISA’ Sagarbarria.”The lawmaker urged the p...

Sep12026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

72 wanted persons arrested, P2.48M in shabu seized in NIR in one week

Top Stories

Seventy-two wanted persons were arrested while more than P2.47 million worth of suspected shabu was seized in police operations across the Negros Island Region from Aug. 24 to 30.The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region said 25 of those arrested were classified as most wanted persons, while 47 were other wanted individuals.In its campaign against illegal drugs, PRO-NIR conducted 46 operations that resulted in the arrest of 51 persons.Police recovered about 364.39 grams of suspected shabu with a standard drug price of P2,477,650.Meanwhile, 37 anti-illegal gambling operations led to the arrest of 65 persons and the confiscation of P15,351 in alleged gambling proceeds.The regional police also conducted 22 operations against loose firearms, resulting in the confiscat...

Sep12026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

COMELEC NIR all set for filing of COCs for barangay polls

Top Stories

The Commission on Elections Negros Island Region (COMELEC NIR) is all set for the filing of certificates of candidacy for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on November 2.The filing of COCs for the BSKE candidates is scheduled from Sept. 28 to Oct. 5, while the campaign period is set from Oct. 22 to 31.The COMELEC is continuing preparations for the elections despite a pending bills in Congress to postpone the BSKE, its NIR regional director Lionel Marco Castillano said Tuesday, Sept. 1They will continue preparing for the BSKE until such time that a law is passed postponing it, Castillano said.*

Sep12026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

NIR dengue cases down 47%

Top Stories

Dengue cases in the Negros Island Region (NIR) dropped significantly by 47 percent during the first eight months of 2026, the Department of Health reported.Covering January 1 to August 22 the region recorded 3,420 dengue cases, down from 6,482 cases reported during the same period in 2025, it said.School-aged children continue to be the most affected group in the NIR.Children aged 6–10 recorded the highest prevalence with 612 cases (18 percent), followed by the 11–15 age group with 542 cases (16 percent), and children aged 1–5 with 523 cases (15 percent). Infants under one year old recorded the fewest cases at 71 (2 percent), while adults aged 41–50 and 51–60 both logged 134 cases (4 percent).Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection transmitted primarily by female Aed...

Sep12026 by Nanette GuadalquiverNo Comments

Pisay’ campus in NIR to spur new growth area in Bacolod

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

The establishment of the Philippine Science High School Negros Island Region Campus (PSHS-NIRC) is seen to spur another growth area in Bacolod City, with preparations underway for its opening in school year 2027-2028.Barangay Granada in the eastern part of Bacolod has been identified as the site of the PSHS-NIRC earlier this month.“Groundbreaking will be in November as scheduled,” Secretary to the Mayor Jose Marty Go said Monday, Sept. 1.Mayor Greg Gasataya received a letter dated Aug. 4 and was formally informed by Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-PSHS System Executive Director Ronnalee Orteza on Aug. 5 that Bacolod City has been selected to host the newest PSHS campus.Spanning almost 10 hectares, the PSHS-NIRC will become the PSHS System’s largest c...

Sep12026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

47-year-old man found dead inside Isabela laborers’ quarters

Top Stories

A 47-year-old man was found dead inside a laborers’ quarters at a hacienda in Isabela, Negros Occidental, on Monday morning, Aug. 31.The Isabela police identified the victim only as alias “John,” a resident of Brgy. Maytubig.Police said his body was discovered at around 9:35 a.m. inside a laborers’ quarters at Hacienda Endriquita in Brgy. Tinongan.According to the victim’s companion, John had been suffering from a severe headache since the previous day and was found motionless on his bed the following morning.The barangay chairman also told police that the victim had a known history of hypertension.An initial inspection found no visible external injuries on the body and no apparent indications of foul play at the scene.Police are continuing their investigation...

Sep12026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

EB Magalona temporarily reverting to 8-hour workday

Top Stories

The municipal government of E.B. Magalona in Negros Occidental Will temporarily revert to the regular eight -hour workday from Tuesday to Friday, September 1 to 4, Mayor Matthew Malacn said in an advisory today.Working hours will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. this week.Effective Tuesday, September 8, the municipality will resume the implementation of the compressed four-day workweek.Working hours will be fron 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday.All municipal officials and employees are enjoined to strictly observe the prescribed working hours and ensure proper compliance with this memorandum, the mayor said.*

Aug312026 by Judy F. PartlowNo Comments

New NegOr police director, 6 chiefs assume posts

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

The newly designated officer-in-charge police director of Negros Oriental and six new police chiefs have assumed their posts following the relief of their predecessors over the weekend, an official said Monday, August 31.Capt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO), said that Col. Lito Patay reported to the province on Sunday after being designated by Negros Island Region police director Brig. Gen. Roman Cardiño to replace Col. Timmar Alam."Col. Patay and the new police chiefs assumed their posts on Sunday even without an official relief order as yet to ensure continuity of the vacated posts," Polinar said.Relieved effective Aug. 28 were Lt. Col. Joeson Parallag of Bayawan City; Lt. Col. Romeo Cubo of Guihulngan City; Capt. Mary J...

Aug312026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Bacolod cops nab senior citizen for illegal refilling of petroleum products

Top Stories

The police arrested a 72-year-old man who was caught in the act of illegally refilling and selling petroleum products in Purok Riverside, Barangay Banago, Bacolod City, Monday afternoon, August 31.The entrapment was conducted at about 2:43 p.m. by joint elements of the City Intelligence Unit of the Bacolod City Police Office, led by PLt. Rhanie B. Songaling, with George Danny U. Gemotra, a representative from the Republic Gas Corporation.Undercover operatives caught the suspect mid-transaction during a buy-bust operation targeting illicit butane and gas distribution, recovering three filled REGASCO-brand butane canisters along with a marked ₱100 bill and ₱1,207 in cash proceeds.A search of the immediate area yielded an extensive haul of illegal equipment...

Aug312026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

101.2-MW floating solar project eyed in Sagay, construction targeted in 2027

Top Stories

A 101.2-megawatt floating solar power project covering about 105 hectares is being planned in Brgy. Himoga-an Baybay, potentially adding a major renewable energy investment to Sagay City.Representatives of LakeSunEnergy Inc. met with Mayor Leo Rafael “Bebo” M. Cueva at the City Mayor’s Office to update the City Government on the proposed 101.200 MWAC Solar-on-Water PV Solar Project, August 26.LakeSunEnergy is a subsidiary of Mandaluyong-based SunAsia Energy, a press release from Sagay City said Monday, August 31.The company is currently working to secure financing and complete project requirements by December, with construction targeted to begin in early 2027, subject to the approval of permits, clearances, and other regulatory requirements.The project proposes to install s...