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Sep152026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Gasataya appoints Jardin EA for environmental, special programs

Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya has appointed former Liga ng mga Barangay pPresident Mona Dia Jardin as one of his executive assistants effective Tuesday, September 15.As executive assistant, Jardin will be tasked with handling environmental concerns and special programs of the city, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said.Jardin previously served as Punong Barangay of Barangay Felisa for six years. She was elected President of the Liga ng mga Barangay of Bacolod City from 2010 to 2013.She also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA) and later as general manager of the water utility."Her extensive track record in public service and local governance will be a valuable addition for the smoo...

Sep152026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Colorum van with 10 fare-paying passengers apprehended in Bacolod

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A van allegedly operating as an unauthorized public utility vehicle was apprehended by the Land Transportation Office-Negros Island Region in Brgy. Singcang, Bacolod City, on Tuesday morning, Sept. 15.LTO-NIR said personnel of its Regional Law Enforcement Service intercepted the van at around 9 a.m. while it was carrying 10 passengers from Kabankalan City to Bacolod City.The agency said each passenger reportedly paid P230 for the trip.LTO-NIR classified the vehicle as colorum, or operating as public transportation without the required authority.OIC Regional Director Jeck Conlu said the agency will continue operations against unauthorized public transport operators.“We will continue to go after colorum operators. Our priority is the safety of every riding public,” Conlu ...

Sep152026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

P738,480 in suspected shabu seized in Negros Oriental; high-value suspect arrested

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

A 42-year-old man classified by police as a high-value drug suspect was arrested while about P738,480 worth of suspected shabu was seized in a buy-bust operation in Valencia, Negros Oriental, on Monday, Sept. 14.The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region identified the suspect only as alias “Dondon,” a resident of Brgy. Cadawinonan, Dumaguete City.The operation was conducted in Purok 1, Brgy. Balugo, by personnel of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office’s Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit and Provincial Intelligence Unit, with support from the Valencia police in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.Police said the operation stemmed from intelligence reports that the suspect was allegedly involved in distributing illegal drugs in Dumaguete City, Ba...

Sep152026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

LTO-NIR serves show cause order on Dumaguete motorist over alleged reckless driving

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

The Land Transportation Office-Negros Island Region served a show cause order on a motorist in Dumaguete City over an alleged reckless driving incident that circulated on Facebook.LTO-NIR said Monday, Sept. 14, that its Intelligence and Investigation Unit served the order after the incident was brought to the agency’s attention through the social media post.The respondent was directed to submit a written explanation and appear before the LTO Dumaguete District Office.The agency did not immediately disclose further details of the alleged incident or the identity of the motorist.LTO-NIR said the show cause order forms part of its enforcement of Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.The issuance of the order does not by itself determine liability a...

Sep152026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Tricycle driver dies after hitting sack of palay along Hinoba-an highway

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A 51-year-old tricycle driver died after his vehicle struck a sack of palay on the side of the national highway in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental on Monday night, Sept. 14.The Hinoba-an police identified the victim only as alias “Generoso,” a resident of Brgy. Talacagay.Police said the road incident happened at around 8 p.m. in Purok Rose B, Brgy. Talacagay.Investigation showed that the victim was driving a Kawasaki Bajaj tricycle home when it collided with a sack of palay along the roadside, causing him to lose control of the vehicle and fall onto the concrete pavement.He sustained injuries to the head and was brought by the Hinoba-an Rescue Team to the Hinoba-an District Hospital, where he was later declared dead by the attending physician.Police said the victim h...

Sep152026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

2 arrested, P340K in suspected shabu seized in Pontevedra

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Two men were arrested while about P340,000 worth of suspected shabu was seized in a buy-bust operation in Pontevedra, Negros Occidental, on Monday afternoon, Sept. 14.The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office identified the suspects only as “Jazper,” 27, and “Paul,” 38, of Purok Gumamela, Brgy. Antipolo.The operation was conducted at around 4:19 p.m. by the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit together with personnel of the Pontevedra Municipal Police Station, Provincial Intelligence Unit and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Negros Island Region.Police said the suspects allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu to an undercover officer during the operation.Authorities recovered six sachets containing about 30 grams of suspected shabu from Jazper, with an estimated...

Sep142026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Nat’l government agencies deliver ₱261.5M in aid, services to Negrenses on Marcos’ birthday

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The distribution of aid at the Capitol Park and Lagoon in Bacolod City*Ronnie Baldonado photoMultiple national government agencies gathered at the Capitol Park and Lagoon in Bacolod City and key sites across Negros Occidental to deliver essential public services and over ₱261.5 million in aid to Negrenses as part of the "Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat" initiative on Monday, Sept. 14.The "Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat" was a nationwide activity held as President Ferdinand Marcos marked his 69th birthday,The multi-agency event accounted for a total allocation of over ₱261.5 million in turned-over funds, projects, equipment and financial assistance benefiting thousands of residents, farmers, st...

Sep142026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

DFA, BFAR lead appeal to reopen US market for Philippine blue swimming crabs

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The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources are leading the re-appeal for the United States to reopen its market for the Philippines' blue swimming crabs, BFAR Negros Island Region OIC Director Rene Parreño said on Monday, Sept. 14.They are waiting for local government unit ordinances on bycatch monitoring to be attached to the appeal this September, he said.Bycatch refers to the incidental capture, injury, or death of marine wildlife during fishing.Parreño said Negros Occidental, Iloilo, and Palawan have already submitted their ordinances, and they are waiting for one from Bicol.On June 11, the United States stopped accepting blue swimming crabs from the Philippines due to the country's failure to comply with American marine mammal p...

Sep142026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

CEO defends ₱3.7M footbridge cost; 20-year lifespan, community impact cited

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Mayor Greg Gasataya and City Engineer’s Office (CEO) representatives inspected the newly rehabilitated footbridge connecting Barangay Singcang-Airport and Barangay 35 on Monday, September 14.Gasataya highlighted the structural reliability of the project, which benefits thousands of daily commuters, particularly students traveling to nearby downtown schools, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said.“The structure is crucial for residents here. Based on the assessment of the City Engineer’s Office, it can withstand up to 20 years. The funds allocated upon the request of residents will definitely benefit both Barangay Singcang-Airport and Barangay 35,” Gasataya said.The mayor was welcomed by City Councilor and former Punong Barangay Caesar Distrito, c...

Sep142026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

NOCECO residential power rates up by ₱0.7744/kWh in September

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The Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO) announced on Monday, Sept. 14, that its residential electricity rates have increased to ₱16.0080 per kWh for September 2026.This marks a ₱0.7744 per kWh rise from August's rate of ₱15.2336 per kWh.The rate adjustment is primarily driven by a ₱0.5197 per kWh increase in the Generation Charge, which rose from ₱8.4420 per kWh to ₱8.9617 per kWh. NOCECO said.This surge was triggered by higher prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), climbing from ₱12.8130 per kWh to ₱15.3496 per kWh, alongside slight increases in ancillary services, system loss charges, and generation-related Value Added Tax (VAT).Despite the high WESM charges, NOCECO noted that it implemented only approximately 25 percent of the prelimina...