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The dengue cases in Negros Occidental are beginning to drop, Dr. Girlie Pinongan, Provincial Health Officer, said on Tuesday, April 22.There have been 1,692 dengue cases reported in Negros Occidental from Jan. 1 to April 19, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) said.The number is 341.78 percent higher than the 383 cases in the same period last year.The dengue deaths this year remain at seven.Bago City still has the highest number of dengue cases at 333.But Pinongan said the number of dengue cases being reported lately have dropped.Meanwhile, Pinongan reiterated her call for residents to avoid exposure to extreme heat and to stay hydrated all the time to prevent heat strokes.*

The five modern electric jeepneys delivered by Chinese-Korean e-vehicle company e-Future Motors Philippines to Cebu People’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Bacolod City this month.*The Bacolod City government will showcase its electric jeepney (e-jeep) utilization initiative under the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) during the visit of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon on Friday, April 25.Dizon and his team will assess the city’s implementation of the e-jeep program to set a benchmark for other local government units, Benitez said on Tuesday.“I asked the new Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to come and witnesses our initiative on e-jeeps. I invited them to see firsthand what we have done,” he said.Benitez said he believes that together wit...

A mechanic was found dead in Linda Ville II, Brgy. West, Candoni, Negros Occidental, on Monday, April 21.The police identified the victim only as alias “Jerold”, 46.According to the wife of the the victim, her husband had been staying at the house of his friend after they decided to separate because of his constant intoxication and their frequent quarrels, the police said.The victim was hospitalized last year due to chronic alcohol consumption, the wife also said.The victim’s family believe there was no foul play involved in his death.*

Rogelio Claridad, a member of Doong Anangue Coffee Integrated Farmers Association, a group based in Barangay Buenavista, Murcia.*Coffee farmers from Negros Occidental province have topped the 2025 Western Visayas Regional Coffee Quality Competition organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), with Rogelio Claridad of Murcia town winning first place among the top five winners.Claridad is a member of Doong Anangue Coffee Integrated Farmers Association, a group based in Barangay Buenavista being assisted by the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) under the Integrated Social Forestry (ISF) Program.In a statement on Monday, the PEMO congratulated the Negrense coffee farmers who excelled in the competition.“The provincial government of Negros Occidental, t...

Pope Francis passes away at 88*Vatican News photoThe death of Pope Francis is a great loss not only to the Catholic Church but to the world, Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon said on Monday,  April 21.The people of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City join the world in mourning the Pope’s  death, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and  Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez  said.Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who oversees the pope's affairs, announced the death of the Pope at  his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta at 7:35 a.m. on  Monday (1:35 p.m. in the Philippines).He was 88 years old.The Pope’s  entire life “was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and uni...

Witnesses saw Jagpreet Singh driving this Toyota Innova that hit the tricycle at the Good Friday procession, the police said.*Romeo Subaldo photoThe police filed multiple cases against an Indian national before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office on Monday, April 21, for the death of three and the injury of 16 at a Good Friday procession in Barangay Alangilan, Bacolod City, PCol. Joeresty Coronica, Bacolod police director, said.Inquest proceedings were underway late Monday, he said.Charges for reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide, multiple physical injuries, and damage to property were filed against Jagpreet Singh, 37, Coronica said.Coronica said claims that Singh was not the driver of the Toyota Innova that hit a tricycle at the procession that resulted ...

The molasses spill in the Binalbagan River* Binalbagan LDRRMO photoMayor Alejandro Mirasol said he is waiting for the official report of the Environment Management Bureau after the Binalbagan Isabela Sugar Company allegedly spilled about six tons of molasses in the Binalbagan River on Saturday, April 19.He has yet to receive the assessment report from EMB, the agency that led the investigation into the incident that affected barangays San Juan and Canmoros located along Binalbagan’s major river, Mirasol told DIGICAST NEGROS on Monday.He said that a leakage from BISCOM's settling pond for molasses may have caused the spill because of the high heat index, but this has yet to be confirmed by the EMB.The mayor has already met with the officials from EMB, BISCOM, and other gov...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez explains move to decongest CLMMRH emergency room at a press conference on Monday.*The Bacolod City government is waiting to implement a Memorandum of Agreement with the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital for the establishment of a facility to accommodate and treat emergency cases, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Monday, April 21.The Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services (BUCAS) will be located at the former Department of Agrarian Reform provincial office at Dawis in Barangay 14, Bacolod.Ther old DAR office building that is owned by the city government will be made an extension of CLMMRH to decongest its constantly overcrowded emergency room.The city government will allocate about P50 to 60 million for the...

Fr. Brian Gore*Fr. Brian Gore, a priest who championed the cause of the poor and cared deeply for the environment, passed away at the Holy Mother of Mercy Hospital in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, 7:30 p.m. on Easter Sunday, April 20.He was 81.“He walked with the poor, defended the oppressed, and cared deeply for the environment and all God's creation. Now that his mission is complete, may he rest in the loving embrace of the God of justice and mercy,” the Columbans PH Missionaries announced.Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon said Gore was "great man whose heart was for the poor and victims of injustice...he deserves a hero’s funeral".“What a beautiful Day to join the Lord on Easter Sunday”, Buzon also said.Gore, an Australian priest, was one of the “Negros Nine” ...

The ashfall from the recent eruption at Kanlaon Volcano has caused close to P1 million in damage to high value commercial crops in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) said the initial damage to high value crops in barangays Haguimit, Ara-al, Cubay and La Granja on April 8 was P952,196.The ash fall hit 34.76 hectares affecting 48 farmers, the OPA reported.A moderately explosive eruption occurred at the summit crater of Kanlaon Volcano on April 8 that lasted for 56 minutes, with La Carlota City being the worst hit by its ashfall.Meanwhile, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Thursday, April 24, the provincial government’s community kitchens that provide food to the Kanlaon evacuees will begin their fourth month of operations.H...