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Nov52026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

DOT, GCash sign MOU to expand cashless payments among accredited tourism MSMEs

The Department of Tourism (DOT) and GCash, through its mobile wallet operator G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), have partnered to promote cashless payments among tourists and DOT-accredited micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Local merchants will receive digital payment tools and training so they can serve visitors more conveniently.The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed on November 3. Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay and Assistant Secretary for Branding and Marketing Communications, Armand Lorenze Sapitan, signed for the DOT. Paul Albano, General Manager of GCash for Business, and Juan Carlos “Caloy” Bauza, Vice President and International Payments Head of GCash International. The MOU sets a framework for joint campaigns, merchant onboarding, and financial literacy initia...

Nov52026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Canlaon commemorates Typhoon Tino, mayor vows continued housing support for displaced families

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Devastation in Canlaon City after Typhoon Tino* Romeo Subaldo photoCanlaon City in Negros Oriental commemorated the first anniversary of Typhoon Tino on Wednesday, Nov. 4, with Mayor Jose Chubasco “Batchuk” Cardenas assuring families who lost their homes that the city government would continue providing housing and rebuilding assistance.The commemoration, held at the Canlaon City Pension House in Brgy. Panubigan, brought together families still staying in evacuation centers and residents whose houses were destroyed and damaged when the typhoon struck on Nov. 4, 2025.Cardenas said 47 families, comprising 118 individuals, remain in evacuation centers a year after the disaster.He said these families would be prioritized for relocation to Brgy. Binalbagan to allow the city gove...

Nov42026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Negros remembers Typhoon Tino: 106 dead, 34 still missing 1 year later

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

One of the bodies recovered in Moises Padilla after Typhoon Tino* Moises Padilla DRRMO photoOne year after Typhoon Tino hit Negros Island on Nov. 4, 2025, leaving 106 residents dead and 34 others still missing, masses and prayers were held across the island Wednesday to honor the victims and offer thanks for the survivors.Residents still missing in La Castellana total 13, Moises Padilla – 9, Bago City – 3, La Carlota City – 3, Isabela - 2 and San Carlos City - 2, in Negros Occidental, Office of Civil Defense Negros Island Region spokesperson Mylene Gonzaga said.Missing in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, are two, she adedd.The 106 deaths in Negros Occidental were highest in Moises Padilla and La Castellana with 18 deaths each, followed by Hinigaran with 12, Bago City - 8, and...

Nov42026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Malacañang releasing ₱665M aid for 11 NegOcc LGUs hit by Typhoon Tino, Kanlaon unrest

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson*Malacañang is releasing P665 million for infrastructure and other needs of 11 towns and cities in Negros Occidental affected by Typhoon Tino and Kanlaon Volcano’s unrest, on Thursday, Nov. 5Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he and officials of other calamity-hit areas in the country, including Negros Oriental, have been asked to go to the palace to receive the assistance.Lacson explained that the funds for infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, buildings and facilities, housing, and resettlement are based on the requests of the affected local governments.There are also those who appealed for health and education aid.A list sent to Lacson showed that the P665 million will be allocated to the following areas:Binalbagan ...

Nov42026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

DSWD pours ₱884.7M in relief to over 86,000 pest-hit Negros sugarcane farmers, laborers

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Distribution of aid in Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental,*DSWD photoThe Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has released ₱884,778,900 under its UPLIFT Disaster Assistance Program to support sugarcane farmers and laborers affected by red-striped soft-scale insect (RSSI) infestations in Negros Island as of Monday, Nov. 2.The Negros-wide financial relief has reached 86,092 beneficiaries—comprising 64,042 farmers and 22,050 agricultural laborers—to help mitigate losses caused by pest damage to sugarcane crops, DSWD Negros Island Region Director Arwin Razo said Wednesday.Negros Occidental received the largest share of the disaster funding, totaling ₱647,036,775 for 62,667 beneficiaries, of whom 47,940 are farmers and 14,727 laborers.The amounts released per distr...

Nov42026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Bacolod SP: 2025 COA report proves city loans are already being audited

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The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod*The existence of the Commission on Audit (COA) Annual Audit Report for Calendar Year 2025, which was submitted to the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod, contradicts claims that SP members are afraid of an audit of the city’s loan-funded projects, Councilor Caesar Distrito said Wednesday, Nov. 4.In its Second Partial Joint Committee Report which was adopted by the SP, the Committees on Appropriations and Finance, Government Assets, and Laws, Ordinances and Good Government emphasized that COA has already examined the city’s loan accounts, including the DBP-funded Legislative Building Project, Distrito said in a press release.The 2025 COA Report specifically examined 17 loan accounts, of which 16 were reconciled with bank confirmat...

Nov42026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

2 national artists, top taxpayers to be honored at 128th Cinco De Noviembre rites

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Nunelucio Alvarado of Sagay City and Teodoro Ledesma Hilado of Silay City (l-r)*Two Negrenses who were recently named National Artists will be honored as this year’s Outstanding Negrenses at the 128th Cinco de Noviembre rites at the Social Hall of the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on Thursday afternoon, Nov. 5.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier named Nunelucio Alvarado of Sagay City as National Artist for Visual Arts and Teodoro Ledesma Hilado of Silay City posthumously for Theater.Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said both will be honored by the provincial government alongside the top ten real property taxpayers of the province in the individual and corporate categories.Alvarado, 76, is a social realist artist famous for immortalizing the struggles of s...

Nov42026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Irrigated rice farms in NegOcc expected to maintain production levels even amid El Niño

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Rice production in irrigated areas of Negros Occidental is expected to hold steady or see a slight increase despite the anticipated prolonged El Niño, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Wednesday, Nov. 4.Lacson noted that the province's resilient agricultural output was demonstrated during the 2024 dry spell, during which Negros Occidental maintained a stable rice supply in irrigated areas without experiencing shortages.To mitigate the impact on non-irrigated areas, the governor urged farmers in rain-fed areas to temporarily shift toward drought-resistant root crops capable of surviving the dry conditions.To support affected farming communities, the provincial government is installing rubberized dams across rain-fed areas. Installation of the first unit is underway in t...

Nov42026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Elderly woman dies after being hit by motorcycle in Kabankalan

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A woman in her 70s died after being hit by a motorcycle while crossing a road in Brgy. Oringao, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday, Nov. 3.The victim, identified as “Violeta,” a resident of Brgy. Oringao, sustained serious head injuries at around 5:30 p.m. in Purok Tuburan, police said.Initial investigation showed that the victim had just purchased chicken feed from a store near the barangay hall and was walking home when the accident occurred.Police said a Kawasaki motorcycle driven by alias “Carlito,” 32, a truck driver and resident of Brgy. Camingawan, was traveling from Kabankalan City proper toward his residence when it struck the victim as she crossed the road.The impact caused the woman to fall onto the highway and sustain serious head injurie...

Nov42026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

CHED: Silliman University lone NIR school in QS World University Rankings: Asia 2027

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

The Silliman University campus*SU file photoSilliman University (SU) in Dumaguete City continues to make its mark on the international academic landscape, emerging as the only university in the Negros Island Region (NIR) included in the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2027, the Commission on Higher Education – Negros Island Region (CHED-NIR) said Wednesday, Nov. 4.The university ranked 9th nationwide, 128th in Southeast Asia, and placed within the 741–750 bracket overall in Asia out of more than 1,500 evaluated institutions across the continent, it said. This milestone marks the third consecutive year that Silliman University has stood as the sole ranked higher education institution in the NIR in the regional QS evaluation, following bracket placements of 60...