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Aug302026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

DSWD disbursement to RSSI affected farmers hits ₱280M

ECT payout in Sipalay City.*DSWD photoThe Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has disbursed a total of ₱280,891,800 in Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) assistance to smallholder sugarcane farmers affected by the Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI) infestation across the Negros Island Region (NIR) as of Friday, August 28.A total of 27,304 farmer-beneficiaries in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental have received financial support to help mitigate income losses caused by the crop infestation, DSWD NIR Director Arwin Razn said Sunday.Negros Occidental recorded the highest number of recipients, with ₱229,153,050 released to 22,194 farmers spanning 14 cities and municipalities.La Castellana registered the largest allocation in the province at ₱47,938,9...

Aug302026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Albee explores solar battery storage, smart microgrid tech to stabilize power supply

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Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is pursuing smart microgrid technology and localized power solutions to address ongoing electricity reliability issues in Bacolod.In a Facebook post on Saturday, August 29, Benitez shared details of his meeting with tech giant Huawei to discuss integrating solar power, battery storage, and Smart Microgrid systems to lower costs and stabilize the local power supply."We deserve cleaner, more reliable energy," Benitez said. "Reliable power means fewer disruptions, stronger businesses, and better everyday life for Bacolodnons", he said.He said through proper cooperation and technology, the city can strengthen its energy supply for a better, more dependable future.To manage immediate grid stress during power sh...

Aug302026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

House commends Ledesma, Yulo, Degamo for perfect attendance

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Rep. Julio Ledesma IV (Neg. Occ., 1st District), Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo (Neg. Occ., 5th District), and Rep. Janice Degamo (Neg. Or., 3rd District), l-r.*Ninety-eight members of the House of Representatives, including three from Negros Island, were commended for maintaining perfect attendance in all 39 plenary sessions during the First Regular Session of the 20th Congress, which ran from July 28, 2025, to June 3, 2026.House Resolution No. 1394 named Rep. Julio Ledesma IV (Neg. Occ., 1st District), Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo (Neg. Occ., 5th District), and Rep. Janice Degamo (Neg. Or., 3rd District) among those with perfect attendance.Authored by Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III, Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander A. Marcos, Minority Leader Marcelino C. Libanan, and Deput...

Aug302026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

1,632 police personnel to secure National Heroes Day observance in NIR

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region will deploy 1,632 police personnel across the region for the observance of National Heroes Day on Monday, Aug. 31.PRO-NIR said personnel will be positioned in strategic areas, including major thoroughfares, transportation hubs, public places, memorial sites and locations where increased public movement and gatherings are expected.The deployment will include fixed, mobile, motorcycle and foot patrols, traffic assistance, checkpoints, border control operations, Civil Disturbance Management units and Reactionary Standby Support Forces.Another 14 personnel from other units and 311 force multipliers will support the security operations.Police personnel will also assist motorists and commuters, manage traffic, monitor public activit...

Aug302026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

NegOr police director, 6 police chiefs relieved over illegal gambling operations

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office Director Col. Timmar Alam and six police chiefs were relieved from their posts following simultaneous operations against alleged illegal numbers games in six areas of the province, the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region said.PRO-NIR said the reliefs were carried out under the Philippine National Police’s “one-strike policy” on illegal gambling after the Regional Special Operations Group personnel arrested six individuals in Bayawan City, Guihulngan City, Sibulan, Pamplona, Tayasan and Ayungon on Friday, Aug. 28.The operations were conducted from around 10:14 a.m. to 1:34 p.m. and targeted individuals allegedly soliciting and collecting bets for illegal numbers games in violation of Republic Act 9287.Police recovered bettin...

Aug302026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

UNIFED thanks national government for RSSI subsidy

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UNIFED President Manuel Lamata (right) with allied sugar federations, Mindanao Federation's Manuel Zubiri (left) and Cornelio Toreja (center) of LuzonFed during the recent Philsutech Convention in Cebu City*UNIFED photoThe United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines (UNIFED) on Saturday, August 29, thanked the national government for its timely assistance to sugar farmers who were affected by the Red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) infestationUNIFED President Manuel Lamata said he personally sent a message of thanks to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza for giving importance to the sugar industry."Their continued support to the industry is laudable despite the incessant criticisms from some sectors," Lamata said.UNIFED also...

Aug302026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

P374,000 in suspected shabu seized in E.B. Magalona

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The arrest in EB Magalona*A 42-year-old man classified by police as a high-value drug suspect was arrested after about P374,000 worth of suspected shabu was seized during the implementation of a search warrant in E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental, early Saturday, Aug. 29.The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region identified the suspect only as alias “Flo,” a resident of Brgy. Alicante.Police said intelligence operatives of the E.B. Magalona Municipal Police Station implemented the search warrant at around 12:15 a.m. after conducting casing, surveillance and a test-buy operation.Authorities recovered one knot-tied plastic sachet and five heat-sealed sachets containing about 55 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of P374,000.An improvised to...

Aug302026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

TESDA marks 32nd anniversary with Color Fun Run in Bacolod

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Rep. Javier Miguel L. Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) at the TESDA 32nd Anniversary Color Fun Run*Around 1,500 runners took part in the TESDA 32nd Anniversary Color Fun Run, held from CityMall Mandalagan to the Provincial Lagoon, Bacolod City on Saturday, August 29, themed "Strong Body. Strong Mind."The Association of Technical Institutions of Negros Occidental (ATINO) organized the run as part of the local celebration of the 32nd founding anniversary of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, observed nationwide under the theme "TESDA @32: Husay, Tibay, Tagumpay."Participants included TESDA scholars, trainees, trainers, technical-vocational institutions, and industry partners.TESDA Negros Island Region Regional Director Dr. Niña Connie Dodd delivere...

Aug302026 by Joann VillanuevaNo Comments

Up to P4/L oil price rollback possible Tuesday

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PNA file photoDomestic fuel prices are projected to decline by as much as PHP4 per liter on Tuesday, Sept 1. , after a big jump this week, as market expectations for the risks from the US-Iran conflict eased.Citing price developments in the international market as of Thursday, Jetti Petroleum president Leo Bellas said diesel prices will likely go down between PHP3.50 and PHP4 per liter and gasoline between P0.25 and PHP0.75 per liter.In a message to the media Friday, Bellas said fuel prices went down this week “as threatened US sanctions fell short of the market’s expectations and (investors) viewed the economic pressure as a lower-risk path for physical supply than a military escalation, reducing the oil market’s anxiety and easing immediate supply concerns.”He also noted ...

Aug282026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

CENECO tackles by-law revisions, future dividends for 220K member-owners

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CENECO acting general manager Arnel Lapore at the consultative meeting.*CPG photoThe proposed amendments to the Central Negros Electric Cooperative by-laws as it transitions from a distribution utility into an asset management corporation will be subject to the approval of the Energy Regulatory Commission and the ratification of the CENECO members, its acting general manager Arnel Lapore said Friday, August 28.The amendment of CENECO’s by-laws and the manner in which future dividends will be distributed to its about 220,000 members were tackled at a consultative meeting at the Acacia Hotel in Bacolod City.CENECO had previously entered into a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC).Under this agreement, NEPC acquired CENECO's di...