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Oct42026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

11 Bacolod schools unveil MassKara masks, costumes ahead of Oct. 17 showdown

Eleven elementary and high schools in Bacolod City showcased their masks, headdresses, costumes and performance concepts ahead of the MassKara Festival 2026 Street Dance and Arena Competition-School Category on Oct. 17.The participating schools presented their entries during the Mask and Costume Display Competition-School Category at Ayala Malls Capitol Central, giving the public an early look at the designs and concepts they will bring to the festival competition.Seven elementary schools are participating: Vista Alegre Elementary School, Education and Training Center School II, Sum-ag Elementary School, Mandalagan Elementary School, Montevista Elementary School, Vista Alegre-Granada Relocation Elementary School and Handumanan Elementary School.The high school contingents are P...

Oct42026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Workers, ARBs commend SRA for inclusive consultation

Business, Top Stories

The National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP) and the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) nationwide commended the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Saturday following what it called a highly productive, industry-wide consultative meeting held in Makati City.NACUSIP National President Roland de la Cruz, who was at the meeting, in a press statement praised SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona “for his visionary leadership in bringing planters, millers, refiners, and traders together to forge a unified direction for the Crop Year 2026-2027 milling season”."We congratulate and thank Administrator Azcona for organizing this thorough and transparent dialogue," De la Cruz said. "For too long, the voices of the workers and small beneficiar...

Oct22026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Consensus reached to allocate all PH sugar for domestic market – SRA

Business, Top Stories

The sugar stakeholders meeting.*The Sugar Regulatory Administration announced on Friday, Oct. 2, that a consensus among industry stakeholders was reached that Philippine sugar this crop year will all be classified as “B” for domestic consumption.The decision was reached given the significant projected drop in production to 1.66 million metric tons, down from 1.85 million MT last year, it said in a press statement.Heads of sugar federations, millers, refiners and traders came together in a hybrid meeting hosted by the Philippine Sugar Miller's Association in Makati City to discuss sugar classification before the issuance of Sugar Order 1 and they agreed to recommend 100 percent "B", it said.SO1 sets the classification and allocation of locally produce...

Oct22026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

P7.82 million suspected shabu seized in Dumaguete buy-bust

Negros Oriental, Police, Top Stories

Police seized about 1.15 kilograms of suspected shabu worth P7.82 million and arrested a 35-year-old man in a buy-bust operation in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, on Friday morning, Oct. 2.The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region identified the suspect only as alias “John,” single, tagged a high-value individual, and a resident of Brgy. Batinguel of the said city.The operation was conducted at about 11:19 a.m. in Purok Santol, Barangay Balugo, by personnel of the Dumaguete City Police Station’s City Drug Enforcement Unit.Police said the operation stemmed from information provided by a confidential informant alleging that the suspect had been involved in the distribution of illegal drugs in several barangays in Dumaguete City.Authorities then conducted surveillance ...

Oct22026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

House Speaker Dy says Congress must listen to communities, address farmers’ concerns

Business, Community, Top Stories

House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III said Congress must listen directly to communities and determine what more government can do for sectors that sustain the country, as he put farmers’ welfare, education, barangay governance, and public safety among the concerns raised during the House of Representatives’ LegisHear consultation in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, Friday afternoon, Oct. 2.Speaking before local officials, barangay leaders and sectoral representatives at the Victorias Coliseum, Dy said bringing Congress closer to communities allows lawmakers to hear firsthand what policies and additional government support are needed.Dy gave particular emphasis to farmers, saying the country depends heavily on their work and that Congress should examine what additional measure...

Oct22026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

60 households in Moises Padilla sitio get electricity through P5.21M project

Community, Top Stories

Sixty households in Sitio Agogolo, Brgy. Macagahay, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, now have access to electricity following the completion of a P5.21 million electrification project.The Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO) formally energized the project on Thursday, Oct. 1, during a ceremony at Agogolo Elementary School.NOCECO said the project is the largest under its Sitio Electrification Program in the 5th District of Negros Occidental.Sitio Agogolo is classified as a Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area, making the installation of electric poles and other facilities more challenging.Fifth District Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo III commended NOCECO personnel for completing the project despite the difficult terrain.Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Celes...

Oct22026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Dead green sea turtle found in Dauin

Business, Top Stories

A dead green sea turtle weighing an estimated 60 kilograms was found along the shore of Poblacion 1 in Dauin, Negros Oriental, on Thursday afternoon, Oct. 1.The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said the turtle was discovered by local residents at around 5 p.m.The turtle was already in a decomposed condition and was estimated to have been dead for about a week.DENR personnel measured the turtle at 40 inches in straight carapace length and 23 inches in straight carapace width.The cause of death could not be determined during the initial assessment.The turtle was assessed, measured and documented before its remains were buried in the area following proper procedures.*

Oct22026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Negros Occidental disperses 849 livestock, poultry to boost farm recovery

Business, Community, Top Stories

The Negros Occidental provincial government distributed 849 heads of livestock and poultry and 15 units of equipment worth a combined P1.289 million to farmers, associations and institutional partners to support agricultural recovery and livelihood programs.Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Placeda Lemana led the turnover on Thursday, Oct. 1, under the province’s Swine Industry Recovery Initiatives and Animal Genetic Improvement and Livelihood Programs.The assistance included 500 two-week-old chicks, 100 Rhode Island Red chicks, 150 Itik Pinas, 54 female piglets, 32 castrated piglets, one uncastrated piglet, 10 sows and gilts, and two male ruminants.The weaners will be raised as breeding sows as part of efforts to accelerate the rebuilding of the province’s swine population while pro...

Oct22026 by Mary Judaline PartlowNo Comments

Negros Oriental cops seize P27.6-M shabu in 9 months

Negros Oriental, Police, Top Stories

Police in Negros Oriental seized nearly PHP27.6 million worth of suspected shabu in the first nine months of 2026, an official said Thursday.Capt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson for the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO), said the seizures resulted from sustained anti-illegal drug operations across the province from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30.“The campaign against illegal drugs is one of the four focus points of NOrPPO and we have sustained police operations across the province without compromising other anti-crime activities,” Polinar told the Philippine News Agency in an interview.NOrPPO records showed that police conducted 460 anti-drug operations during the period, resulting in the arrest of 44 high-value individuals and 425 street-level individuals.Police confisc...

Oct22026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Farmer killed, another wounded in Sipalay stabbing

Police, Top Stories

A 61-year-old farmer was killed while another man was wounded after they were stabbed inside a house in Brgy. Camindangan, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday night, Oct. 1.Police identified the fatality as alias Molong, 61, while the injured victim was identified as alias Ar-ar, 35, both farmers and residents of Purok Bawug in the barangay.The suspect was identified as alias Rene, 57, also a resident of Brgy. Camindangan.Police said the two victims were inside their house at around 9 p.m. when the suspect allegedly entered and stabbed them.Molong was hit on the left side of his chest, while Ar-ar sustained a stab wound on the left side of his abdomen.Both were brought to the Merceditas J. Montilla District Hospital, where Molong was declared dead.Ar-ar was...