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A Bacolodnon drowned near ‘Punta Runway’ at the old Bacolod City airport in Brgy Tangub, Bacolod City, on Wednesday, April 2.Willie Lariosa, 28, drowned and his body was recovered three hours after the incident was reported, BREDCO Port Sub-station commander Ensign Eljohn Ga said.According to the family of the victim he often joked about drowning that is why they did not take him seriously when he said he was drowning.When the family realized that he was not joking anymore, they sought the help of the Bureau of Fire and Protection-Bacolod, and the Bacolod Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office and Philippine Coast Guard personnel helped in the search and retrieval operation.The Bacolod City Fire Station received the call for help at about 3:52 p.m. and the victim was fou...

The Silliman University Medical Center in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental is the only Level 3 hospital in Negros Oriental.*PNA/Mary Judaline Flores Partlow photoThe Silliman University Medical Center Foundation Inc. (SUMCFI) on Wednesday, April 2, assured the public that the suspension of the government’s Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program is temporary.SUMCFI president Fredita Tan and officer-in-charge vice president for financial services Charmaine Concepcion said during a press conference that the MAIFIP has to be suspended effective April 1 to avoid compromising the hospital’s operations amid the Department of Health's (DOH) outstanding debt.“We have already written and talked to the DOH Region 7 (Central Visayas) who assur...

Negrense beach volleybelles Grace Cordero, Alexa Polidario, Lorien Gamboa and Katherine Epa (l-r) at the 2nd Nuvali Open.*Five athletes from the Negros Island Region (NIR) are representing the country in the ongoing AVC Beach Tour 2nd Nuvali Open in Santa Rosa City.They are Silaynons Honey Grace Cordero, Alexander Iraya and Lorien Gamboa and Bacolodnon Alexa Polidario of Negros Occidental, and Katherine Epa of Tanjay, Negros Oriental.Cordero, Epa, and Iraya are all students at the National University, Gamboa of the University of Santo Tomas and Polidario, a former University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos Rams standout who now plays for the Philippine Army, are competing against top international teams.These NIR athletes continue to showcase their skills on the sand, carryi...

Suspected shabu was  found  on the body of a man who was shot dead by an unidentified gunman  in Purok Sigay, Brgy. 2, Bacolod City, early Wednesday morning. Alias “JR” who was temporarily residing at Purok Sigay,  was shot in  the chest. The victim was brought to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival. The doctor who attended to him  recovered a sachet containing suspected shabu from his  pocket. The police are investigating if the shooting was connected to the  illegal drug trade.* 

DepEd NIR Regional Director Ramir B. Uytico*The Department of Education on Wednesday, April 3, announced the appointment of its Negros Island Region top officials. Ramir B. Uytico has been appointed DepEd NIR regional director and   Anthony H. Liobet is the OIC-assistant regional director. Uytico, who is  the current  DepEd Western Visayas regional director, will be  replaced by  Cristito Eco in an OIC capacity. Liobet  will continue to head the DepEd  in Negros Occidental in a concurrent capacity.  “Your vision, dedication, and commitment to quality education will undoubtedly inspire and uplift the entire Negros Island Region”, the  DepEd - Division of Negros Occidental said in a Facebook post congratulat...

Former Senator Leila de Lima in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental.*ML Partylist photoFormer Senator Leila de Lima said she will definitely file  a case against  former president Rodrigo Duterte and  former justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre for her being detained for almost seven years on fabricated drug trafficking charges.The charges have since been dismissed. De Lima, first nominee of the Mamamayang Liberal PartyList,  was campaigning in Negros Occidental  on Wednesday, April 3. She said her lawyers are preparing charges against Duterte, Aguirre and several others who had a hand in accessing witnesses and inmates who were “forced, coerced and pressured”  to falsely  testify against her. “My lawyers are at it already…they are supposed t...

The  Automated Counting Machines (ACM) for the May 2025 elections in the Negros Island Region (NIR)  are expected to arrive on Holy Week. The ACMs are scheduled to arrive  in Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, April 17 and 18, Regional Director Lionel Marco Castillano of the Commission on Elections-NIR said on Wednesday, April 3. The ACMs will be placed in designated warehouses where security forces will be assigned. Negros Occidental will have  2,484 ACMs, Negros Oriental - 1,289 and Siquijor - 149.  About 50 to 70 more ACMs have been allocated to the NIR as a contingency in case units break down. Comelec will have ACM repair hubs in Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and S...

Independent senatorial candidate Heidi Mendoza (4th from left) whose candidacy is being endorsed by educator Juliet Jeruta, lawyer Andrea Lizares Si, former governor Rafael Coscolluela, urban poor leader  Joy Jarabelo and Bacolod Councilor Celia Flor (l-r)* “Let’s make election 2025 an election of possibilities”. That was the call of former Commission on Audit commissioner and  independent senatorial candidate Heidi Mendoza who was campaigning in Negros Occidental on Wednesday, April 3. She said independent candidates like her do not have the tarpaulins, billboards or paid advertisements that senatorial candidates belonging to political parties have  but there is an emerging changing political landscape. The very fact that ordinary Filipinos ar...

 Stakeholders welcomed the opportunity to explore the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in education during the 1st International AI Education Summit hosted by the Negros Occidental Language and Information and Technology Center (NOLITC) at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City  on Wednesday, April 3. Tackling the profound transformation of AI both in education systems and the workforce, the event gathered educators and students to help equip them with the latest tools and strategies to revolutionize learning. In his message, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson underscored the collective responsibility to harness the technology for the greater good, ensuring that Al serves as an “instrument of empowerment rather than exclusion.” “This marks a significan...

A man, who was supposedly meeting his ex-girlfriend, was shot dead after he was mistaken for a thief on entering the house of her uncle in Purok 2, Brgy. Liptong, Valencia, Negros Oriental, early Wednesday morning, April 2.Alias “Gaspar” was shot in the chest by alias “Peter”, 80, the uncle of his ex-girlfriend, the police said.Gasper texted his ex-girlfriend that he wanted to meet with her.When Gaspar entered the house Peter woke up and shot him.The suspect is now under police custody.*