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Seven months after its ground breaking, Bacolod City’s first-ever Athletes’ Dormitory will be inaugurated at the Romanito P. Maravilla Sr. National High School (RMSHNS) in Barangay Estefania on Monday afternoon, March 24.Supported by Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, the ₱12.5 million facility is designed to provide student-athletes with a safe and comfortable space for training and academics, a press release from the Bacolod City Public Information Office said Sunday.The dormitory features two bedrooms that can accommodate 32 athletes—16 boys and 16 girls—each with individual beds and cabinets. Amenities include a dining and cooking area, dedicated comfort rooms, an office, and a stockroom.This milestone marks a significant step in Bacolod’s commitment to sports development and ...

The two rescued foreigners at the Incident Command Center in Barangay Malabo, Valencia, Friday afternoon.*Mary Judaline Flores Partlow photoFour of six foreigners who went trekking in Mt. Talinis, Valencia, Negros Oriental, were still missing Friday afternoon, March 21, Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, said.Only two of the four - German Torsten Martin Groschupp, 58, and British Alexander Radvanyl, 63, were found in the forest Friday morning.The four who are still missing are Aldwin Fink, 60, and a certain Wolfgang, 67, – Germans, Anton Chernov, 38 – Russian, and a certain Terry - Canadian, the police said.The Valencia police station on Monday morning posted the photos of the six missing foreigners with an appeal t...

A policeman shot and killed his live-in partner and turned the gun on himself following a heated confrontation in Purok Camia, Brgy. Poblacion, Valladolid, Negros Occidental, Thursday night, March 20, a police report said.“Ruby”, 33, of Brgy. Sagua Banua, Valladolid, was shot by a 40-year-old police master sergeant from Brgy. Doldol, Valladolid, and assigned at the Iloilo City Police Station 5.Capt. Bonifacio Galvez, Valladolid deputy police chief, said that the incident was witnessed by the 10-year-old son of Ruby.Police investigation revealed that the victim and the suspect were having a heated argument that led to the shooting.The suspect allegedly used his service firearm to shoot his live-in partner multiple times.After the incident, the suspect shot himself in the...

Fromer Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo Teves Jr.*The Department of Justice (DOJ) plans to appeal the Timor-Leste Court of Appeals' decision denying the extradition of former Negros Oriental lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr., Malacañang said on Friday, March 21.Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the government was "surprised" at the Timor-Leste court's "adverse ruling" overturning its December 2024 decision approving Teves' extradition."The administration, especially the DOJ, was somewhat surprised at this," Castro said in a press briefing.She said the DOJ had provided all the necessary evidence and records to support the extradition request, including proof that the Philippines has no active death penalty in place.Castro, citing DOJ Ass...

Firefighters putting out the blaze at the Bago City Elementary School.* Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade photoFire destroyed one building at the Bago City Elementary School at Barangay Poblacion, Bago City, Friday afternoon, March 21.Destroyed were four classrooms and a stockroom in the Torres Building, FO2 Joeman Alvarez of the Bago City Fire Station said.There were no students and teachers in the building because there were no classes at the school, he said.The fire broke out at about 3:30 p.m. and was put out at 4:45 p.m., Alvarez said.They are still investigating the cause of the fire, he added.*

LGU pavilions at the Panaad are being spruced up for the festival opening on Monday.*The seven-day Panaad sa Negros Festival officially kicks off with the opening of the 32 pavilions of the towns and cities of Negros Occidental, and the Best of Festival Dances competition on Monday, March 24.Charina Magallanes Tan, this year’s festival director, called on Negrenses to join the festival at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City “because we have a lot in store for them”.The festival will start with a thanksgiving mass at 8 a.m. to be followed by the ribbon cutting ceremonies for the food security and technology showcase (organic village), food alley, livestock and dairy fair exhibit, art fair, provincial government trade fair, and the blessing of the LGU pavilions.The g...

The police arrested live-in partners who are allegedly members of the Caunda Drug Group in a buy-bust operation in Purok Maghili-ugyon, Brgy. 35, Bacolod City, March 19.Arrested were Rodnel Tiberio, 32, a high-value dug personality, and his live-in partner Jona Mae Cuambot, 29, both alleged members of the Caunda Drug Group, the police said.Tiberio was arrested in 2019 for illegal drugs but was released in 2022, Capt. Francis Depasucat , Bacolod City Police Station 1 commander, said.They had been monitoring the suspects for sometime, he said.The police seized 12 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street drug price of P81,600 from them.The suspects are now in police custody and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs...

The Northern Negros Electric Cooperative announced on Friday, March 21, a 67-centavo per kilowatt-hour decrease in its electricity rates for March.NONECO said that their March electricity rate is P13.5982/kWh, which is P0.6707/kWh lower than February’s P14.2689/kWh.The cooperative attributed the decrease to the drop in the Ancillary Service Charge from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines of about P0.4875.Foreign exchange rates fluctuation and the fuel cost of the power suppliers were also factors in the decrease of the rates from the Wholesale Electric Spot Market of about P0.0797/kWh, .Negros Electric and Power Corporation earlier announced a 67-centavo per kilowatt-hour decrease in its electricity rates for March.Negros Power said that its current electr...

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is urging Bacolodnons to do their share in preventing fire incidents as part of its Red Zone Program.Data on Friday, March 21, showed that 284 red zones or fire prone areas have been identified in the city as of March, the Fire Prevention Month.Of these, 54 sub-villages are listed as high risk (more than one fire), 71 are moderate risk (at least one fire), and 158 are low risk (without history of fire).“The Red Zone Program is a shared responsibility, not only of the BFP. The local government unit and the barangay (village) are also involved. It involves the community. Fire safety starts at home,” city fire marshal Supt. Jenny Mae Masip said.“Our goal is to minimize damage or lessen the number of affected houses. We also aim for zero inju...

Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez led the first-ever Midnight Victory Run, a new addition to the annual Kadalag-an Festival of Victorias City, on Thursday, March 20.Benitez, in his message, said the victory run is an exciting way to promote health and fitness among Victoriasanons while fostering a stronger sense of community.The event gathered more than 400 runners from Victorias and nearby cities and municipalities.Participants competed in four race categories — 3KM men and women and 5KM men and women — with the top five finishers in each category receiving awards, a press release from Victorias City said.Participants also had the chance to win prizes in a raffle, where gift certificates, T-shirts, mugs, and other giveaways were distributed.More than just a race, the Mid...