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The Philippine National Police will activate the PNP-Negros Island Region office at rites set at the Acacia Hotel in Bacolod City 2 p.m. Thursday, March 27.The Negros Occidental police who are under Western Visayas and the Negros Oriental and Siquijor police who are under Central Visayas will officially be under the NIR regional office with its activation, Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, PNP Region 6 director, said.There will be adequate police forces for the new region, he assured.Wanky said the head of the PNP-NIR has not been named yet but would likely be known on Thursday.Secretary Gilbert Remulla of the Department of the Interior Local Government will be represented by a DILG official at the activation rites, Wanky said.The PNP-NIR Regional Office will temporarily be housed...

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration announced the start of the warm and dry season on Wednesday, March 25.Nathaniel Servando, Department of Science and Technology-PAGASA administrator, in a statement issued Wednesday said the shift of wind direction from northeasterly to easterly due to the establishment of the High-Pressure Area (HPA) over the Northwestern Pacific signifies the termination of the Northeast Monsoon over most parts of the country and the start of the dry season.“With this development, the day-to-day weather across the country will gradually become warmer, though isolated thunderstorms are also likely to occur,” he said.He advised the public to take precautionary measures to minimize heat stress and optimize the daily ...

The Department of Education has ordered that all K to 12 graduation and moving-up ceremonies be kept simple but meaningful, and free from partisan politics.The graduation and moving up exercises in public schools are scheduled for April 14 and 15, Ian Arnold Arnaez, DepEd Negros Occidental Schools Division spokesperson, said on Wednesday, March 26.No partisan political activities should be allowed at the end of school year rites, he said, citing DepEd Memorandum 027 issued by Secretary Sonny Angara.The memorandum states that DepEd officials, teaching, and nonteaching personnel are prohibited from engaging in electioneering or partisan political activities.Arnaez also said inviting speakers who can inspire students is encouraged.School heads should avoid inviting spe...

The man caught in a viral video firing a gun at agrarian reform beneficiaries during an altercation in Hacienda San Antonio Dos in Barangay Dos Hermanas, Talisay City, Negros Occidental, in January was arrested in Guimaras Wednesday morning, March 26.Jose Alontaga was arrested in Brgy. Taminla in Buenavista , Guimaras, PMaj. Rhazl Jim Jocson, Talisay deputy police chief, said.The Talisay police led by Lt. Col. Salvador Trono Jr. served a warrant of arrest on Alontaga.He is facing charges for violation of the gunban and grave threats, and bail for his temporary liberty has been set at P159,000.The police filed cases against Jose Alontaga Jr. for grave threats in relation to R.A. 10591, also known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, and for violation ...

Col. Rainerio De Chavez, Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky and Mayor Rhummyla Mangilimutan (2nd, 3rd and 4th from left) at the inauguration of the new PNP building in La Castellana.*Four police stations in Negros Occidental have new PNP standard buildings.The inaugurations of the new police station buildings were held in La Castellana, Isabela, Manapla, and Himamaylan City on Wednesday, March 26.The turnover over rites were led by Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, Western Visayas Police Director, with Col. Rainerio De Chavez, Negros Occidental police provincial director.Wanky said that he is grateful for the support of the local government units that contributed to the realization of these new police stations with PNP standard buildings.*

Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez presenting the first Mayor’s Medal of Distinction to Sr. Marie Ann Rasoamandimby.*Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez presented the first Mayor’s Medal of Distinction to a sister of the Holy Trinity during the 27th Kadalag-an Festival Awards Night at the Don Alejandro Acuña Yap-Quiña Arts and Cultural Center in Victorias City on Monday, March 23.Sr. Marie Ann Rasoamandimby, originally from Madagascar, has resided in Victorias City for 20 years and is known for her dedication to uplifting the lives of Victoriasanon children through her feeding and scholarship programs.Meanwhile, the Sidlak Award — the highest distinction given to a son or daughter of Victorias City — was awarded to Victoriasanon painter Mark Justiniani, known for...

The fire in Barangay Alijis, Bacolod, on Thursday.*BFP Bacolod photoFire destroyed three houses in Purok Spaghab, Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod City, on Thursday, March 26.Three families were affected by the fire that was reported at about 6:54 a.m., the Bureau of Fire Protection- Bacolod said.The fire was declared out at about 7:01 a.m., and damage was placed at about P25,000.There were no casualties or injured persons reported.The BFP-Bacolod is still determining the cause of the fire.*

ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo (center) topped the latest SWS survey.*PNA/Avito Dalan photoNine candidates from the administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas have secured strong positions in the latest senatorial survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS), according to results released Wednesday, March 26.The survey, conducted from March 15 to 20 and commissioned by Stratbase Consultancy, showed ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo leading those in the winning circle with 42 percent of voter preference.Tulfo was tied with Senator Bong Go in 1st-2nd place.Former Senate president Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, who is also from the Alyansa slate, followed in 3rd-4th place with 34 percent, alongside independent candidate Ben Tulfo.Other administration-backed c...

The “Sugar Cultural Landscape of Negros” exhibit at the Balay Kalamay*The Negros Occidental provincial government is showcasing the “Sugar Cultural Landscape of Negros” in the ongoing 29th Panaad sa Negros Festival, putting a spotlight on its bid for inclusion in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List.Running until March 30, the exhibit at the Balay Kalamay or the Provincial Tourism Pavilion in the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City features “the rich heritage of the sugar industry, which drove the industrialization of sugar production in the late 18th century.”The seven historical sites included in the UNESCO Tentative List are the Historic Center of Silay and Hawaiian-Philippine Company in Silay City; Victorias ...