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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.*

A man was arrested after he fired his gun during the Charter Day celebration in Brgy. Poblacion 2, Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, early Wednesday morning, April 2.The resident of Brgy. Poblacion 5, Tanjay City, was arrested for violation of the COMELEC gun ban.Investigation revealed that while a live band was performing during the charter day celebration, the suspect opened fire and was heard by the people in the area.The suspect was immediately arrested and is now under police custody.Recovered from him was a .38 caliber snub-nose revolver, the police said.*

The rooftop farming system of Cadiz City in Negros Occidental on the second floor of its pavilion at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.*Cadiz City in Negros Occidental is advocating the rooftop farming system as a model for sustainable agriculture and urban greening.It is part of the initiatives that made the northern Negros city the top winner in the competition for Best Local Government Unit (LGU) Booth compliant with Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 in the just-concluded 29th Panaad sa Negros Festival.“The award affirms that Cadiz continues to shine as a symbol of excellence and sustainability in the province,” Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. said in a statement on Wednesday.The innovative farming system being practiced by the...

Participants of the 2025 Lakbay Palay at the Philippine Rice Research Institute-Negros Station in Murcia, Negros Occidental on Wednesday.*Richard Malihan photoThe Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) is urging rice farmers in Negros Occidental to adopt innovative practices under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) 2.0. to increase their productivity and income.The appeal was made by officials during the 2025 Lakbay Palay dry season farmers’ field day and forum themed “RCEF sa Bagong Pilipinas” held at the PhilRice-Negros Station in Murcia town on Wednesday.In his keynote message, PhilRice deputy executive director for research Dr. Jimmy Quilang discussed science-based evidence on how farmers can increase their income.These...

The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) is urging pedestrians to strictly observe traffic rules and regulations to prevent road accidents.The call was made in a resolution authored by Councilor Em Ang, which the SP approved on Wednesday, April 2.The resolution states that recent road accidents involving pedestrians have become a major concern.It is essential to promote road safety awareness and education among pedestrians, it said.It calls on all pedestrians to strictly observe traffic rules and regulations, including crossing streets only at designated pedestrian crossings or intersections.It also stresses the need to obey traffic signals and pedestrian signs, and to avoid distractions like using mobile phones or taking photos while walking.It also urges the public...