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A Barangay Mansilingan performer in the arena dance competition.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival (BCIF) 2025 surpassed expectations with an income of P2.4 million over five days - out performing its 2023 and 2024 figures of P1.9 million and P1.8 million, respectively, despite the rain.Held from May 21 to 25, this year’s festival showcased Bacolod’s globally recognized chicken inasal through a series of flavorful and festive activities at The Upper East by Megaworld, SM City Manokan Country, and Ayala Malls Capitol Central, a press release from the Bacolod City Tourism Office said Tuesday, May 27.One of the most anticipated highlights was the BCIF Arena Dance Competition, where seven barangays competed. The 1st place winner was Barangay Mansilingan, whi...

Healthy piglets born on a farm in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental.*PNA/Mary Judaline F. Partlow file photoNegros Oriental’s Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) said Bais City is the latest local government unit (LGU) to be declared free from African swine fever (ASF) under the pink zone category.PVO spokesperson Jaymar Vilos said on Tuesday, May 27, that Bais City received its recognition of active surveillance for ASF from the Bureau of Animal Industry’s (BAI) national office last week.“The recognition was issued last May 21 and will be valid for three months, after which Bais City will have to submit another round of surveillance report for the ASF-free declaration renewal,” Vilos said in mixed English and Cebuano.Once an LGU is declared ASF-free, it could transport hogs be...

A fisherman was found dead on the shore in Brgy. Punta Salong, Manapla, Negros Occidental, Tuesday morning, May 27.The police identified the victim as Ramel Juanico, 26.Th victim was allegedly drunk and went to his boat the night before he was found dead, Maj. Robelito Mariano, Manapla police chief, said.There was no foul play involved in the incident as their initial findings show that he died from drowning, Mariano said.Meanwhile, a farmer was injured after he was stabbed multiple times by another farmer in Purok Cabarles, Brgy. Damsite, Murcia, Negros Occidental, on Monday, May 26.The police said alias “Francisco”, 49, of Purok Cabarles was injured after he was allegedly stabbed by alias “Marlon”, 38, also a farmer and resident of Purok Baldad, Brgy. Cansilayan in Mu...

A lahar damaged house in La Castellana on Saturday.*OCD photoA tight watch is being enforced to ensure that farmers allowed into Kanlaon Volcano’s 6- kilometer danger zone from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. return to their evacuation centers at the end of the day, an Office of Civil Defense official said Monday, May 26.Only adults are allowed in the area during the day to tend to their farms, but they cannot stay there overnight, Donato Sermeno III, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCDE) Negros Island Region, said.He said they received reports that children were also being brought to the area, which should not be allowed.Residents are allowed to continue farming in the 6-kilometer danger zone because they need to earn money, especially for the education of their childre...

Lacson Street in Bacolod City.*Ronnie Baldonado photoMayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Monday, May 26, welcomed Bacolod City’s rise in the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2025 rankings, reaching the 518th spot this year from only 538th in 2024.“This leap reflects our city’s steady gains in economic strength, human capital, quality of life, environment, and governance --a strong sign that Bacolod is moving forward with purpose and progress,” Benitez said in a statement on Monday.Benitez, who was elected congressman in the May 12 elections after serving as city mayor for one term, urged Bacolodnons to “keep building a smarter, stronger, and more sustainable Bacolod.”In a separate statement, the city’s Department of Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion sai...

A sugarcane farm hit by red-striped soft-scale insects (RSSI).*The Sugar Regulatory Administration is submitting a proposal for P10 million in assistance from the Department of Agriculture to curb the spread the highly destructive red-striped soft-scale insects (RSSI) that have hit sugar farms in 11 towns and cities in Negros Occidental.It was agreed during a meeting on Friday that the SRA proposal for P10 million will be submitted to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Negros Island Region DA Regional Director Jose Albert Barrogo said on Monday, May 26.They also agreed on the creation of an inter-agency task force to be led by the SRA, he added.Barrogo said they also discussed the DA’s immediate provision of insecticide to eliminate the RSSI “but w...

Siquijor Gov. Jake Vincent Villa*Siquijor Gov. Jake Vincent Villa said despite six confirmed cases of Glanders disease, his province remains safe for residents and tourists.Villa, in a Facebook post, said the provincial government of Siquijor, in cooperation with the Negros Island Region One Health Task Force, and the Department of Health, continues "to monitor, and maintain the health of the community".Despite six confirmed cases of Glanders, a bacterial disease from a sick animal, “it is not something to worry about as the situation is very much under control, and all affected have already received appropriate medication and care”, he said.Glanders is a condition known in veterinary and human medicine, and there are many effective ways to treat and prevent it, he said....

Romeo Subaldo in front of the White House in Washington.*DIGICAST NEGROS news chief Romeo Subaldo is one of 10 Filipino and Japanese journalists participating in a reporting tour of the United States that began Sunday, May 24, and will run until June 14.Subaldo, one of the founders DIGICAST NEGROS, is a veteran broadcast journalist who started his career with ABS-CBN.The reporting tour will include visits to Washington D.C., New York, Seattle, San Francisco, and Honolulu.The tour is administrated by the independent non-profit organization Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) Global.The reporting tour will explore the security, political, economic, and people-to-people ties that are critical to the U.S.-Philippines bilateral relationship, the U.S.-Japan bi...

A woman died saving her 80-year-old father from electrocution inside a comfort room at a cafe in Brgy. Miranda, Pontevedra, Negros Occidental, on Sunday, May 25.Rona Geogangco, 45, died, while her father, Roland Gascon, 80, of Brgy. Pacol, Bago City, was injured after they were electrocuted.The police said they were on a family outing and went to a comfort room.However, a live wire hit the head of the father causing him to be electrocuted and Rona tried to help.They were brought to the Valladolid District Hospital but Rona was declared dead on arrival.Her father was transferred to a hospital in Bacolod City for further medical attention.Capt. Darryl Kuhutan, Pontevedra Police Chief, said that they are waiting for the victims’ family to decide whether they will file ...

Abang Lingkod Partylist representative-elect Manuel Frederick Ko.*Negros Occidental Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko, Abang Lingkod Partylist representative-elect, said he will focus on strengthening support services for farmers and fisherfolk while in Congress.Ko said he will go back to Abang Lingkod’s roots that is to promote the cause of farmers and fisherfolk.He said he will seek technical support in the House to tie-up with the Department Agriculture and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to enhance assistance, especially in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.Ko won a seat in the House of Representatives via 274,735 votes for Abang Lingkod, the bulk of which came from Negros Occidental, especially Bacolod City.Meanwhile, Ko has been appointed acting Negros O...