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Oct42026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Miss Bacolod MassKara bets showcase barangay stories through festival costumes

Fifteen Miss Bacolod MassKara 2026 candidates showcased the culture, livelihood and traditions of their respective communities during the Barangay Pride Costume Competition at a mall in Bacolod City, Oct. 4.Each candidate wore a festival costume inspired by a distinct feature of the barangay she represents, turning local traditions, industries and landmarks into designs presented onstage.The costumes featured the Agihis tradition of Barangay Alijis, Christmas parols of Barangay 29, agricultural heritage of Taculing, Mandalagan’s arts scene, the Sum-ag River, and the historic haciendas of Estefania.Other entries drew inspiration from Granada’s pomegranate harvest, Tangub’s forest heritage, Mansilingan’s mushroom industry, Bata’s basketry, Singcang’s Ati-Atihan tradition, Baranga...

Oct42026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Eight barangays give early look at MassKara 2026 competition

Community, Top Stories

Eight barangay contingents competing in the 2026 MassKara Festival Streetdance and Arena Competition showcased their masks and costumes at Robinsons Place Bacolod on Sunday, Oct. 4.The participating contingents are from Barangays Bata, Alangilan, 10, Handumanan, 13, 6, Taculing and Mandalagan.The MassKara Mask and Costume Display Presentation gives festivalgoers an early look at the designs, colors and creative concepts the barangays will bring to this year’s competition.The entries were also evaluated Sunday by Carmelo M. Escototo, choreographer, artistic director and cultural advocate, Ricky P. Lapidante Jr., RSW, artistic director and choreographer of the Sidlak Kadalag-an Festival Dance and head of Ricky Organizing Entertainment Production, and Atty. Pinky Mirano-Ocampo, a ...

Oct42026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Alminaza calls for gov’t accountability over power outages

DOE proposes immediate interventions to address Visayas power woes

Business, Community, Top Stories

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin has proposed immediate interventions for the recurring power outages in the Visayas grid as she stressed the need for a whole of government approach to address major power supply issues.Garin discussed the Visayas power situation and presented course of actions during the House of Representatives joint public hearing at L'Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City on Saturday.“The earliest (long-term) solutions for the whole Visayas is at 2028,” she said.As an immediate measure, Garin proposed tapping battery energy storage to help cushion supply disruptions while the Department of Energy (DOE) pursues long-term solutions.She added that the agency is also working to bring in power barges to augment electricity supply in the region.The DOE chief thank...

Oct42026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

SSS rolls out LoanLite microloan of up to P20,000

Business, Community, Top Stories

The Social Security System has launched a new digital microloan facility allowing qualified members to borrow from P1,000 to P20,000 for short-term financial needs.In a press release, SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Joseph de Claro said the SSS Micro Loan Program, also called SSS LoanLite, is available to employed, self-employed, voluntary and overseas Filipino worker members who meet the eligibility requirements.Members must have at least 12 posted monthly contributions to qualify.The loanable amount depends on the average of the member’s 12 latest Monthly Salary Credits, or MSCs.De Claro said repayment terms are available for 15, 30, 60 or 90 days, with an interest rate of 8 percent per year, equivalent to about 0.67 percent per month.Members with at ...

Oct42026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Negrense youth urged to fight disinformation, demand accountability

Community, Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Young Negrenses were urged to scrutinize online disinformation and hold public officials accountable during the Bacolod leg of the GenZennial Tour: We Decide the Future at Carlos Hilado Memorial State University-Alijis Campus, Oct. 2.The event, organized by Team Pinas, focused on two national issues affecting young voters: disinformation surrounding the West Philippine Sea and public accountability in controversies involving government officials and the use of public funds.In a press release, Team Pinas described the nationwide tour as a civic education initiative designed for younger audiences who increasingly get information from social media platforms.The program combined short discussions with interactive activities aimed at helping participants evaluate information, unders...

Oct42026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

11 Bacolod schools unveil MassKara masks, costumes ahead of Oct. 17 showdown

Community, Top Stories

Eleven elementary and high schools in Bacolod City showcased their masks, headdresses, costumes and performance concepts ahead of the MassKara Festival 2026 Street Dance and Arena Competition-School Category on Oct. 17.The participating schools presented their entries during the Mask and Costume Display Competition-School Category at Ayala Malls Capitol Central, giving the public an early look at the designs and concepts they will bring to the festival competition.Seven elementary schools are participating: Vista Alegre Elementary School, Education and Training Center School II, Sum-ag Elementary School, Mandalagan Elementary School, Montevista Elementary School, Vista Alegre-Granada Relocation Elementary School and Handumanan Elementary School.The high school contingents are P...

Oct42026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Workers, ARBs commend SRA for inclusive consultation

Business, Top Stories

The National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP) and the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) nationwide commended the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Saturday following what it called a highly productive, industry-wide consultative meeting held in Makati City.NACUSIP National President Roland de la Cruz, who was at the meeting, in a press statement praised SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona “for his visionary leadership in bringing planters, millers, refiners, and traders together to forge a unified direction for the Crop Year 2026-2027 milling season”."We congratulate and thank Administrator Azcona for organizing this thorough and transparent dialogue," De la Cruz said. "For too long, the voices of the workers and small beneficiar...

Oct22026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Consensus reached to allocate all PH sugar for domestic market – SRA

Business, Top Stories

The sugar stakeholders meeting.*The Sugar Regulatory Administration announced on Friday, Oct. 2, that a consensus among industry stakeholders was reached that Philippine sugar this crop year will all be classified as “B” for domestic consumption.The decision was reached given the significant projected drop in production to 1.66 million metric tons, down from 1.85 million MT last year, it said in a press statement.Heads of sugar federations, millers, refiners and traders came together in a hybrid meeting hosted by the Philippine Sugar Miller's Association in Makati City to discuss sugar classification before the issuance of Sugar Order 1 and they agreed to recommend 100 percent "B", it said.SO1 sets the classification and allocation of locally produce...

Oct22026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

P7.82 million suspected shabu seized in Dumaguete buy-bust

Negros Oriental, Police, Top Stories

Police seized about 1.15 kilograms of suspected shabu worth P7.82 million and arrested a 35-year-old man in a buy-bust operation in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, on Friday morning, Oct. 2.The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region identified the suspect only as alias “John,” single, tagged a high-value individual, and a resident of Brgy. Batinguel of the said city.The operation was conducted at about 11:19 a.m. in Purok Santol, Barangay Balugo, by personnel of the Dumaguete City Police Station’s City Drug Enforcement Unit.Police said the operation stemmed from information provided by a confidential informant alleging that the suspect had been involved in the distribution of illegal drugs in several barangays in Dumaguete City.Authorities then conducted surveillance ...