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Negros Oriental’s inflation rate declined further in April as anticipated by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), an official said Monday, May 19.Engineer Ariel Fortuito, PSA-Negros Oriental chief statistical specialist and provincial head, said the headline inflation in April was pegged at -0.1 percent from -0.7 percent in March.Fortuito said last month’s overall inflation rate was primarily attributed to housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels at -0.2 percent from the previous month's -1.6 percent.Food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation came next at -0.2 percent from -0.8 percent, while health ranked third at 0.9 percent from 0.3 percent, a report from the PSA-Negros Oriental showed.Commodity group alcoholic beverages and tobacco was pegged at 2.4 percen...

A minor fire broke out at the Budget Office of the Kabankalan City government at about 7 a.m. Monday, Monday, May 19.The incident was immediately brought under control, preventing any major damage or disruption to office operations, a press release from Kabankalan City said.FO3 Alfir Gravela of the Bureau of Fire Protection said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Preliminary reports indicate that only a few chairs and tables were damaged in the incident.“No documents were burned,” City Budget Officer Joemil Porol said, adding that all important records and files remain intact and secured.City officials are closely coordinating with fire authorities to determine the cause of the fire and to ensure safety measures are reinforced to prevent similar incidents i...

Part of the  P31,280,000 in shabu seized in Bacolod City on Sunday, May 18.*BCPO photo  The police arrested three persons and seized P31,280,000 worth of suspected shabu in what was described as “a significant blow to the illegal drug trade” in Bacolod City on Sunday, May 18.The three were arrested with 4,600 grams of suspected shabu in buy bust operations in barangays Singcang Airport, Estefania and 2, PCol. Joeresty Coronica, Bacolod police director, said.Alias Cherry, 41, of Jaro, Iloilo City, was arrested with 1,100 grams of shabu at a pension house at Purok Hollow Blocks, Barangay Singcang Airport, at about 3:21 p.m. Sunday, Capt. Greeky Cayao, Police Station 8 chief, said.The shabu seized from alias Cherry was worth P7,480,000, he said.The shabu came from Mi...

The scene of the accident in Barangay Tampalon, Kabankalan City.*NOCPPO photoThree laborers on a motorcycle died when their vehicle hit an oncoming truck at Crossing Cabanyohan, Barangay Tampalon, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, 9:40 p.m. Saturday, May 17.The fatalities were the motorcycle driver Rico Ian Manlangit Samanero, 26, and his backriders Jomel Intig Hamaybay, 21, and Robin Gasataya Causapin, 19, of Sitio Igang, Brgy Tampalon, a police report said on Sunday.They were observed to be under the influence of intoxicating liquor, the report added.Investigation revealed that the motorcycle driver was travelling fast when he accidentally hit an oncoming truck driven by Gerardo Makilan III, 40, a resident of Brgy. Locotan, Kabankalan.The motorcycle driver and his ...

The earthquakes that hit Sipalay City in southern Negros Occidental on Saturday and Sunday (May 17 and 18) did not cause any damage to infrastructure, Mayor Gina Montilla Lizares said.A rapid damage assessment was immediately conducted, she said.A magnitude 5.1 earthquake that hit Sipalay City at 8:32 a.m. Saturday was felt in various parts of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Panay and Cebu at varying intensities, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported.The center of the earthquake was 50 kilometers off Sipalay’s mainland near the Negros Trench, Dionelo Bogtae, Executive Assistant 4 to the mayor for peace and order and public safety, said.This was followed by 22 other earthquakes from 9:51 a.m. Saturday to 2:40 p.m. Sunday with magnitud...

The muddy streamflow in the waterways of La Castellana, Negros Occidental, caused by the ashfall from Kanlaon Volcano’s recent eruption, is not as turbid as at was on Friday, an Office of Civil Defense (OCD) official said on Sunday, May 18.According to the La Castellana Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office the quality of the water has improved, it is not as turbid as first observed, OCD Negros Island Region Director Donato Sermeno III said.But it will have to be checked again on Monday with the incident management team, he said.They will have to determine if the water is safe for use when it clears up, Sermeno said.Residents on Friday were advised to boil all drinking water and avoid consuming fish from the affected rivers.The muddy streamflow at the ...

Murder charges will be filed against the suspect who shot a teacher inside a computer shop in Purok Lubi, Brgy. 3, Bacolod City, on May 13.PMaj. Eugene Tolentino, Bacolod City Police Station 2 commander, told DIGICAST NEGROS on Sunday that they already identified a person of interest in the shooting of Rex Calimpon, 48, a teacher and resident of Brgy. Sampinit, Bago City.Tolentino said that they are looking at a personal conflict as the possible motive for suspect's suddenly shooting the victim inside the computer shop.The police have already coordinated with the victim’s family on their plan to file a case against the suspect.After the victim is buried documents will be prepared to file the murder charges against the suspect, Tolentino said.Investigation continues as t...

The Negros Occidental dengue cases were 1,897 with seven deaths as of May 10, Dr. Girlie Pinongan, Provincial Health Office, reported on Friday, May 16.This is an increase by 322.49 percent or 1,488 cases compared to the same period in 2024 that had 449 cases.The age group with the most number of dengue cases was from 11 to 20 years old,Bago City still had the most number of dengue cases reported at 383, followed by Kabankalan City with 175, La Carlota City – 158, San Carlos City – 109 and Silay City- 101.Pinongan said while recent weekly reports showed a drop in dengue cases residents should not be complacent because it has been raining again lately.Mosquitoes that are dengue carriers breed in stagnant water, which must be removed, Pinongan said.*

The three Philippine Coast Guard-Negros Oriental substations got new station commanders during a turn-over ceremony in Brgy. Calindagan, Dumaguete City, on Friday, May 16.They are the PCG-NegOr substations in Sibulan, Zamboanguita, and Bais City.Outgoing Coast Guard Sub-Station Commander of Sibulan PO2 Ralph Pino was replaced by LtJg. Lemuel Guacen, Zamboanguita Commander PO2 Rolend Alabado by Ens. Jores April Nolido, and Bais Commander PO2 Ariel Juanico was replaced by Ens. Sanjay Nidea.PCG-NegOr Commander Lt. Marionne Abigail Enopia expressed her appreciation to the outgoing commanders and commended their commitment that led to their successful tenures.She urged the newly appointed commanders to uphold the high standards expected of their positions.*

Getting Covid-19 protection* PNA photo by Yancy LimThe Department of Health (DOH) assured there is "no cause for alarm" despite the reported surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in some Southeast Asian countries.“We are actively coordinating through established mechanisms like the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Nations). This gives us verified information, boosting readiness even as we see no cause for alarm,” it said in a statement on Saturday, May 17.Hong Kong and Singapore earlier noted a surge in Covid-19 cases.In Singapore, the latest data showed that the estimated number of Covid-19 cases in the week ending May 3 increased to 14,000 from 11,100 in the previous week.Its Ministry of Health said there is no indication that the variants circulating are ...