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Negros Power has ramped up efforts to ensure uninterrupted and stable power supply for the upcoming national and local elections by undertaking massive rehabilitation and preventive maintenance activities in its distribution network during the weekend, April 26 to 27.The intensive operations kicked off at the Murcia Substation early Saturday, with work running from 6 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., a press release from Negros Power said.More than 800 new insulators were installed, and critical repairs were made on several aging power lines to fortify the grid’s resilience, it said.Maintenance activities continued Sunday at the Reclamation Substation from 4 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. where another 400 insulators were mounted, and multiple pieces of outdated and defective equipment were replaced to bo...

The 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB) of the Philippine Army is focusing its attention on two areas in Negros Oriental that are categorized as “red election hotspots”.Lt. Col. Evelio Ilanga, 62IB commanding officer, said Guihulngan City and La Libertad town are tagged under the highest category of watchlist areas of concern due to the presence of the New People’s Army (NPA).“We are not letting our guard down even if the NPA is no longer a serious threat as we are dealing with remnants of the dismantled Central Negros 1 guerilla front, whose also operates in some parts of Negros Occidental,” Ilanga said.“Alongside the Philippine National Police, we are continuing security operations to ensure that the conduct of the elections in these areas will proceed smoothly”, he added.A sh...

City Drug Enforcement Unit cops arrested two people and seized suspected shabu worth P442,000 in a buy-bust operation in Purok Lubi, Brgy. 3, Bacolod City, on Saturday, April 26.Arrested were Jan Rey Malde, 31, a high-value drug personality, and Daisy Mae Malde, 28, a street-level drug personality, of Brgy 3, the Bacolod City Police Office reported.Recovered from them were 65 grams of shabu, the police said.The suspects will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.They are now under police custody.*

Fr Brian Gore’s wake at the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria Church in Oringao on Sunday.*Fr. Brian Gore, the priest who was jailed for serving the poor, passed away on Easter Sunday but the work he started in Barangay Oringao, Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental, will live on in the people whose lives he touched.“He taught us to help others, especially the poor without expecting anything in return”, lay leader Jesus Arzaga, one of the four remaining members of the Negros Nine, said on Sunday, April 27.Gore was the fifth of the nine to pass away.“We will continue the work he started here,” said Arzaga, who was among those at the Australian missionary’s wake at the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria Church in Oringao where he had served for many years.Gore, 81, suffered from pneu...

A motorcycle passenger died while the driver was injured when he overshot a curved road at New Boulevard, Sitio Bino, Brgy. Orong, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday, April 27.Injured was Arjun Mirano, 24, of Sitio Lupni, Brgy. Hilamonan, Kabankalan, while the passenger was not identified.Investigation revealed that the victims came from Balicaocao and were on their wat to Brgy. Orong.*

Another fuel price increase is expected on Tuesday, April 29.Diesel prices are expected to increase by P0.50 to P0.80 per liter, Unioil Petroleum Philippines said Saturday.Gasoline prices will also increase by P1 to P1.20 per liter, it added.*

The World Disco Soup Day Celebration and official launching of the Bago City Slow Food Community with DOT6 Chief Tourism Operations Officer for Regulations Jenylind Cordero, Provincial Tourism Officer Cheryl F. Decena and Bago City Tourism Officer Mae Ann Fortus.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe vibrant spirit of sustainability and community was in full swing Sunday afternoon, April 26, at the Bantayan Park in Bago City as the Slow Food Youth Network of Bago held the first ever World Disco Soup Day in Negros Island Region.With the introduction to the global movement that champions the fight against food waste through creativity, collaboration, and a festive atmosphere, attendees were treated to the unveiling of the official Slow Food logo, a symbol of the group's commitment to promoting...

The police arrested the most wanted persons in Manjuyod and Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, on Friday and Sunday, April 25 and 27.Alias “Ronald”, tagged as the most wanted person in Manjuyod and third most wanted person in Negros Oriental, was arrested on Friday.The suspect was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest for violation of Republic Act 9262 or the Violence Against Women and Children Act.The warrant was issued by Presiding Judge Rosario Santos-Carriaga of the Regional Trial Court Branch 75 in Bais City.The suspect is now detained at the Manjuyod Police Station.Meanwhile, a man tagged as the most wanted person in Bayawan City for murder was arrested by the police on Sunday.The man, whose name was not disclosed by the police, was tagged as the most wanted p...

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is allocating P205 million for the Bacolod-Silay Airport Development Project, on top of the P45 million for the ongoing rehabilitation work, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Friday, April 25.Lt. Gen. Raul del Rosario, CAAP director general, in a letter to Benitez on Thursday, April 24, said the P205 million allocated from their 2025 Corporate Operating Budget is in response to the mayor’s Feb. 24 letter requesting for P200 million for the improvement and renovation of the Bacolod-Silay Airport.Del Rosario said P200 million has been allocated for the expansion of the Passenger Terminal Building, which includes the check-in area and pre-departure area to accommodate the growing passenger demand.The P5 million wi...

Capt. Judesses Catalogo and Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria (l-r) at a press conference on Friday* Comelec photoThe Philippine National Police has gone on full alert and is fielding more than 1,700 policemen to secure the May 12 elections in Negros Occidental.So far the campaign period has been peaceful with no complaints lodged by the 731 candidates in the province, Capt. Judesses Catalogo, Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office spokesperson, said at a press conference on Friday, April 25.There have been no reports of intense political rivalry in the province although the situation could heat up closer to the polls, he said.There are no private armed groups in Negros Occidental, Catologo also said.Negros Occidental has 2,014,000 voters. It is rank...