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A 20-year-old motorcycle rider died after crashing into a parked truck along the national highway in Brgy. West, Candoni, Negros Occidental, early Tuesday morning, Nov. 3.The victim, identified  only as  “Laurence,” a resident of the barangay, was driving a Honda CRF 150 motorcycle when the accident occurred at around 1:20 a.m., police said.Initial investigation showed that the victim was traveling from Candoni town proper toward Brgy. Banga when he reportedly miscalculated his position on the road and swerved toward the right shoulder.The motorcycle then struck the rear of a parked white Canter truck registered to a man identified only as “Joey,” also a resident of Brgy. West.The impact left the motorcycle rider with injuries to different parts of his body.He...

Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez*Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez announced Wednesday, Nov. 4, that he will personally provide ₱1 million in cash incentives to the winners of the various barangay governance and excellence awards conferred by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Bacolod City government for 2026.The cash incentives, which will come entirely from Benitez’s personal funds and not from government resources, form part of his continuing advocacy to promote good governance, transparency, accountability, and excellence in public service, particularly at the barangay level, his spokesperson Councilor Caesar Distrito said.The initiative aims to recognize and reward barangays and local officials who have demon...

Some local governments are suspending face-to-face classes again Wednesday, Nov. 4,  amid a forecasted heat index of 42° Celsius, classified by the state weather bureau as a dangerous level.The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has warned that a heat level of 42–51°C could cause heat cramps and heat exhaustion, with heat strokes probable under continued exposure.The local governments that have so far announced the suspension of face-to-face classes on Wednesday are Victorias City, Himamaylan City, Talisay City, Binalbagan, Isabela, Cauayan and Hinigaran.In Bacolod City, Mayor Greg Gasataya said it will be up to the Department of Education and each school whether to declare the cancellation of classes.More than 56,000...

Rice fields are already starting to dry up in some areas in Negros Occidental.*OPA photoNegros Occidental is expected to experience dry conditions by December, a dry spell by January 2027, and drought conditions by February and March,  the latest outlook from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) shows.This was reported by Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head Irene Bel Ploteña to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on Tuesday, Nov. 3.She noted that an earlier PAGASA advisory issued on Oct. 7 indicated a strong to very strong El Niño is present in the Tropical Pacific. Forecasts predict that El Niño will persist through the first half of 2027, she said.However, PAGASA reported above-normal rainfa...

Police seized around 1,420 liters of suspected illegally traded diesel fuel worth ₱120,700 and arrested a 56-year-old man during a buy-bust operation at Purok Nami-Nami, Barangay Banago, Bacolod City,  late Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 3.The suspect, identified only by his alias "Panoy," a resident of Barangay Banago, was apprehended at around 5 p.m. following reports of illegal siphoning, storage, and trading of petroleum products in large volumes, the Police Regional Office  Negros Island Region (PRO NIR)  reported,A police poseur-buyer successfully bought a container of diesel fuel worth ₱1,000 using marked money, triggering the suspect's immediate arrest, the PRO NIR said.A search of the area led to the recovery of five 200-liter drums and fourteen 30-liter contai...

The National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC)  has just approved the P40 to P45 daily minimum wage increase for private-sector workers in Western Visayas and Negros Occidental set by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board 6, RTWPB-6 chairman Sixto Rodriguez Jr. said Tuesday, November 3.Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino said the new rates would make the Western Visayas and Negros Occidental minimum wage second only to Metro Manila.Under the new wage  order agricultural workers will receive a P45 daily increase, raising their minimum wage from P520 to P565.Non-agricultural workers employed by establishments with more than 10 employees will receive a P40 daily increase, from P550 to P590.Those working in non-agricultural establishments with 10 o...

The Typhoon Tino devastation in La Castellana.*Richard Malihan file photoMass intentions will be offered across parish churches in the Fifth District of Negros Occidental for the casualties and missing individuals of Typhoon Tino, which struck  on November 4, 2025.Rep. Emilio Yulo III (Neg. Occ.,  5th District)   called on the district community to gather in prayer and offer Mass intentions for the eternal repose of the departed and for strength for their grieving families on Wednesday, Nov. 4."In loving memory of those who lost their lives during Typhoon Tino on November 4, 2025, and for those who remain missing and have yet to be found, we will be offering Mass Intentions for the eternal repose of their souls," Yulo said in a  Facebook post Tuesday/ D...

A laborer was found dead with nine stab wounds inside a sugarcane plantation in Sitio Macapalo, Brgy. Cabcab, Isabela, Negros Occidental, on Monday, Nov. 2.Police identified the victim as alias “Chikol,” a resident of Brgy. Cabcab.The Isabela police said  the victim's body was discovered at around 11:45 a.m., while a midwife reported the incident to authorities shortly after noon.Responding police personnel found the victim lifeless inside the plantation with three stab wounds to the chest, one to the neck, two to the right shoulder, and one each to the left shoulder, left thigh, and head.Initial investigation showed that the victim was last seen at around 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, attending a drinking session at the residence of his live-in partner's mother near his h...