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The series of earthquakes in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, lately are tectonic in nature caused by movements in the Negros Trench, Teresito Bacolcol, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology chief, said Friday, May 23.They have nothing to do with the restive Kanlaon Volcano, he said.The Negros Trench is an oceanic trench located northeast of the Sulu Trench and west of the Negros Island Region in the Visayas.The earthquakes in Sipalay are not unusual “because there are active generators, there are active faults, we have trenches in the western side of Negros. When there is a big earthquake in the Negros Trench, it can be felt in Sipalay," Bacolcol said.Successive earthquakes are normal in active trenches, he added.*

The three arrested people and the smuggled cigarettes*The police arrested three people and seized P1.2 million worth of smuggled cigarettes along the highway in Brgy. Panubigan, Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, midnight of Wednesday, May 21.Joebert Saranillo, Abdul Kadil, and Vic Galvez were arrested at a Canlaon City police checkpoint.The suspects onboard a L300 van with no plate number were arrested and smuggled cigarettes worth P1,232,000 were seized, the police said.The suspects are now in police custody along with the confiscated cigarettes and van.They will be charged for violation of Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, the police said.*

Ma. Carmela Delada ranked fourth in the secondary level of the LEPT.*Carlos Hilado Memorial State University is once again among the top-performing schools in the country, as the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) released the Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers for March 2025.The CHMSU Talisay Campus ranked 7th among the Top Performing Schools (Secondary Level) after garnering an average of 91.74 percent overall passing rate, a press release from the university said Friday, May 23.A total of 200 examinees out of 218 takers from the campus passed the LEPT.CHMSU Talisay Campus' feat falls under the top performing schools with 100-299 examinees with at least a 90 percent passing rate.Ma. Carmela Delada, a graduate of the Bachelor of Secondary Education m...

A thanksgiving mass for the Western Visayas 2025 Palarong Pambansa delegates in Ilocos Norte*DepEd photoThe 608 athletes from Western Visayas (WV), 189 of whom are from Negros Occidental, are all set for the opening of the 65th Palarong Pambansa at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, on Saturday, May 24.The Palarong Pambansa will run until June 1.It will be the last Palarong Pambansa where the Negros Occidental athletes will be participating under the WV banner, Hernani Escullar Jr., Department of Education WV spokesperson, said on Friday, May 23.The Negros Occidental athletes will be participating under the Negros Island Region banner in the 66th Palarong Pambansa.The WV delegation in Laoag has 608 athletes, 88 coaches, 24 assist...

Don’t let what seems to be a calm Kanlaon Volcano lull you into complacency, a Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) volcanologist, said on Friday, May 23.Kanlaon Volcano may appear calm but it’s no assurance that another eruption will not occur, Mari-Andylene Quintia, Phivolcs resident volcanologist in La Carlota City said.She said while sulfur dioxide emissions at Kanlaon may be low lately, earthquakes are still being recorded.The low sulfur dioxide emissions could mean that the volcano’s conduit is blocked, which could cause it to an erupt, she said.From 12 a.m. Thursday to 12 a.m. Friday Kanlaon had 18 volcanic earthquakes and emitted 978 tons of sulfur dioxide, Phivolcs said.The volcano remains under Alert Level 3 or intensified unrest.*...

The seven workers of their way home.*Greg Gasataya FB page photoBacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya said on Friday that seven Negrense workers, four of whom are from Bacolod City, who were stranded in Palawan are on their way home.His help to bring home the stranded workers was sought through a Facebook post, Gasataya said.Gasataya said his office immediately made arrangements for the four workers from Bacolod, two from Murcia and one from Binalbagan, to return home.“They will sail on Sunday from Palawan to Iloilo and we expect them to arrive in Bacolod on Monday,” Gasataya said in a Facebook post.*

Philippine Coast Guard-Negros Oriental personnel and civilian volunteers carry the cadavers of two fishermen who were found dead underwater off Apo Island.*PCG Negros Oriental photoTwo fishermen who were members of the Badjao Tribe drowned at sea near Apo Island in Dauin, Negros Oriental, on Thursday May 22.Joel Tapsilani, 35, and Bobong Daomani, 45, residents of Dauis, Bohol and members of the Badjao indigenous peoples community, were found dead after they drowned due to strong sea currents.The victims were illegally fishing in the waters of Apo Island using a bow and compressor at about 9 a.m. Thursday, the police said.However, they were allegedly trapped underwater due to strong sea currents and their bodies were recovered at 3 p.m. on the same day.*

The launching of the “Tabang sa Kanlaon” program.*TESDA photoThe Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-Negros Island Region (TESDA-NIR) launched the “Tabang sa Kanlaon” program on Friday, May 23, to capacitate internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon.The launching ceremony was held simultaneously in La Castellana, La Carlota, and Bago City in Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.At the La Castellana auditorium, TESDA-NIR Assistant Interim Regional Director Joel Divinagracia said the skills training program is one of the components of Tabang sa Kanlaon --a convergence program among the affected LGUs, partner-agencies, and provincial governments of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.“This aims to provide ...

Policemen are searching for a teenager who stabbed a fish vendor at the Public Market in Brgy. 1, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, May 22.The 37-year-old man was injured after he was stabbed by a 17-year-old fish vendor, the police said.Police investigation revealed that while they were packing the fish they bought, the suspect got angry when the victim teased him.The suspect suddenly stabbed the victim in the back and fled, the police said.The victim was brought to the Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital and was referred to the Holy Mother of Mercy Hospital for further medical treatment.Meanwhile, a man was found dead inside a vulcanizing shop in Brgy. 1, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, May 22.Alias Caloy, a resident of Tayasan, Negr...

Sec. Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez, center, at the Education World Forum 2025 in London this week.*Sec. Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General, said he is ready to comply with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for the courtesy resignation of all Cabinet secretaries to recalibrate his administration following the results of the recent election“We are ready to submit to President Bongbong Marcos our courtesy resignation as Director General of TESDA. We are always ready to serve in any capacity, at the pleasure of the President”, Benitez said on Thursday, May 22.Benitez second term as representative of the 3rd District of Negros Occidental was cut short in August last year when the president appointed him T...