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Aug312026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Bacolod ranks 3rd among PH’s fastest-growing economies

Bacolod recorded a 6.8 percent economic growth rate.*Ronnie Baldonado file photoBacolod City ranked third among more than 33 highly urbanized cities (HUCs) in the country with the fastest-growing economies in 2025, Mayor Greg Gasataya announced.Citing the 2025 Provincial Product Accounts (PPA) report of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Gasataya said in a Facebook post Saturday, August 29, that Bacolod recorded a 6.8 percent economic growth rate, outpacing most cities nationwide.General Santos City topped the list with an 8.0 percent growth rate, followed by Cagayan de Oro City in second place at 7.4 percent.Iloilo City placed fourth at 6.1 percent, while Pasig City and Cebu City tied for fifth at 5.8 percent. Baguio City ranked sixth with 5.6 percent.Bacolod c...

Aug312026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

7-year-old boy, 2 others wounded in Hinigaran shooting over parked vehicle

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Three people, including a seven-year-old boy, were wounded after a man allegedly opened fire following an argument over a vehicle parked along a roadside in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental on Sunday morning, Aug. 30.The Hinigaran police said the shooting happened at around 11:25 a.m. along Osmeña Street in Brgy. 2.The victims were a 37-year-old woman, a 64-year-old man and the seven-year-old boy, all residents of the area.Police identified the suspect only as alias “Lino,” 52, a job order employee of the municipal water district and a resident of Brgy. Gargato.Initial investigation showed that the suspect allegedly asked the victims to move their family vehicle slightly to give way to his vehicle.A heated argument followed, after which the suspect allegedly went to his veh...

Aug312026 by Darryl John EsguerraNo Comments

Recto: New ecozones in Dumaguete, 3 other areas to draw P9.7-B investments

Business, Top Stories

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto*PNA file photoFour newly proclaimed economic zones are expected to attract nearly PHP9.7 billion in fresh investments and generate new jobs, bringing to 46 the total number of economic zones created or expanded under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.In a statement Monday, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said the four latest proclamations cover economic zones in Cavite, Batangas and Negros Oriental, supporting the administration’s thrust to spread investments and employment opportunities beyond Metro Manila.The 46 economic zones are projected to generate PHP141.2 billion in investments and nearly 189,000 jobs, according to Recto.Twenty-nine of the zones are in Luzon, 12 in the Visayas, and five in Mindanao. Only three are...

Aug312026 by Joann VillanuevaNo Comments

Red, yellow alert up for Visayas, Mindanao grids

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High demand amidst the low capacity has resulted to the issuance of red and yellow alerts for the Visayas and Mindanao grids on Monday, August 31.The red alert for the Visayas grid is up between 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and the yellow grid is between 10 p.m. to 11 p.m., according to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).For the Mindanao grid, the yellow alert is up between 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.NGCP issues yellow alert when a grid’s operating margin is short against the contingency requirement, while a red alert is up whenever capacity is short against the demand and the grid’s regulating requirement.Available capacity in the Visayas grid is around 2,059 megawatts (MW) while peak demand is projected to reach 2,305 MW.Supply is limited due to the unavailability of s...

Aug312026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Laborer stabbed dead while cutting lumber at Sipalay home, suspect hunted

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A 32-year-old laborer was stabbed dead allegedly by another man while cutting lumber at his residence in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday evening, Aug. 30.The Sipalay City police identified the victim only as alias “Eddie” and the suspect as alias “Mario,” 42, both residents of Purok Kamatis, Brgy. Mambaroto.Police said the incident happened at around 7:30 p.m.Based on the account of a minor who witnessed the incident, the victim was cutting lumber at their residence when the suspect allegedly arrived and pushed him to the ground.The suspect then allegedly stabbed the victim on the right side of his abdomen and wounded his left palm and fingers before fleeing.The victim was rushed to the Sipalay City Infirmary but was declared dead on arrival.Police ...

Aug312026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Bureau of Immigration nabs wanted American in Dumaguete

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Jason Michael Hill was arrested in Dumaguete City.*BI photoThe Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested a 45-year-old American wanted by U.S. authorities for an "underlying dangerous drugs charge" in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, it reported on Saturday, August 29.BI Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) agents, working with U.S. law enforcement agents, the Philippine National Police, as well as local police and maritime authorities, apprehended Jason Michael Hill, 45, at Purok St. John, Barangay Calindagan, on Ausust 11, the BI said..Hill is allegedly wanted in the United States for parole violation, with an underlying dangerous drugs charge, based on an outstanding warrant issued by the Sacramento County Superior Court in California.BI records further showed that Hill entered the Ph...

Aug312026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Tricycle driver found dead in Sum-ag River in Bago

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A 53-year-old tricycle driver who had been missing for more than a day was found dead in the Sum-ag River in Bago City, Negros Occidental on Sunday morning, Aug. 30.The Bago City police identified the victim only as alias “Pepe,” a widower and resident of Purok Talutog, Brgy. Dulao, Bago.Police said one of his children found his body floating near the riverbank at around 8 a.m., with only his head visible above the water.Initial investigation showed that the victim had been drinking liquor with a friend at his residence on Friday evening, Aug. 28, after delivering charcoal in Brgy. Sum-ag, Bacolod City.He reportedly left his house at around 9 p.m. and was later seen crossing the Sum-ag River.His children began searching for him the following day after he failed to retur...

Aug312026 by Mark GarciaNo Comments

Man hacked dead with sugarcane cutter in Escalante, suspect surrenders

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A 64-year-old man was hacked to death with a sugarcane cutter in Escalante City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday night, Aug. 30, while the alleged assailant later surrendered to barangay officials.The Escalante City police identified the victim only as alias “Benjo” and the suspect as alias “Jethro,” 25, both residents of Brgy. Mabini.Police said the incident happened at around 8:30 p.m. in Hacienda Fuentes.Investigation showed that the victim was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and was walking home when the suspect suddenly attacked him with a sugarcane cutter.The victim sustained multiple hack wounds to different parts of his body and died at the scene, police said.Barangay officials retrieved the victim’s body before responding police personnel arrived.The ...

Aug312026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

More than 2,000 Moises Padilla residents enroll in PhilHealth’s YAKAP Program

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The registration in Moises Padilla*More than 2,000 residents were successfully registered under PhilHealth’s Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) during the four-day Kasanag Serbisyo Caravan, organized by the Moises Padilla municipal government from August 25 to 28.Led by Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo, Vice Mayor Felix Mathias Segundo “Pimpoy” Yulo III, the Sangguniang Bayan, and local barangay officials, the mobile outreach delivered frontline public services at the Municipal Evacuation Center, and the covered courts of Barangays Montilla, Quintin Remo, and Guinpana-an, a press release from Moises Padilla said on Monday, August 31.Reynaldo Salutin Jr., PhilHealth Bacolod’s Membership and Collection Division head, said 17 percent of Moises Padilla's tot...

Aug312026 by Darryl John EsguerraNo Comments

Marcos urges Filipinos to carry on heroes’ legacy

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President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.*RTVM photoPresident Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday, August 31, urged Filipinos to honor the country’s national heroes not only by remembering their sacrifices but by carrying forward the nation they fought for.In his message for National Heroes’ Day, Marcos called on Filipinos to renew their “solemn duty” to serve the country and embody the courage and patriotism of those who fought for freedom and defended the nation’s dignity.“Our forebears won our freedom, defended our dignity, and laid the foundations of the Republic we cherish. We honor them best by embodying their courage, keeping the flame of patriotism alive, and becoming the citizens our country needs,” Marcos said.The President said the spirit of heroism continues to live...