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Sep12026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

EB Magalona temporarily reverting to 8-hour workday

The municipal government of E.B. Magalona in Negros Occidental Will temporarily revert to the regular eight -hour workday from Tuesday to Friday, September 1 to 4, Mayor Matthew Malacn said in an advisory today.Working hours will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. this week.Effective Tuesday, September 8, the municipality will resume the implementation of the compressed four-day workweek.Working hours will be fron 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday.All municipal officials and employees are enjoined to strictly observe the prescribed working hours and ensure proper compliance with this memorandum, the mayor said.*

Aug312026 by Judy F. PartlowNo Comments

New NegOr police director, 6 chiefs assume posts

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

The newly designated officer-in-charge police director of Negros Oriental and six new police chiefs have assumed their posts following the relief of their predecessors over the weekend, an official said Monday, August 31.Capt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO), said that Col. Lito Patay reported to the province on Sunday after being designated by Negros Island Region police director Brig. Gen. Roman Cardiño to replace Col. Timmar Alam."Col. Patay and the new police chiefs assumed their posts on Sunday even without an official relief order as yet to ensure continuity of the vacated posts," Polinar said.Relieved effective Aug. 28 were Lt. Col. Joeson Parallag of Bayawan City; Lt. Col. Romeo Cubo of Guihulngan City; Capt. Mary J...

Aug312026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Bacolod cops nab senior citizen for illegal refilling of petroleum products

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The police arrested a 72-year-old man who was caught in the act of illegally refilling and selling petroleum products in Purok Riverside, Barangay Banago, Bacolod City, Monday afternoon, August 31.The entrapment was conducted at about 2:43 p.m. by joint elements of the City Intelligence Unit of the Bacolod City Police Office, led by PLt. Rhanie B. Songaling, with George Danny U. Gemotra, a representative from the Republic Gas Corporation.Undercover operatives caught the suspect mid-transaction during a buy-bust operation targeting illicit butane and gas distribution, recovering three filled REGASCO-brand butane canisters along with a marked ₱100 bill and ₱1,207 in cash proceeds.A search of the immediate area yielded an extensive haul of illegal equipment...

Aug312026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

101.2-MW floating solar project eyed in Sagay, construction targeted in 2027

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A 101.2-megawatt floating solar power project covering about 105 hectares is being planned in Brgy. Himoga-an Baybay, potentially adding a major renewable energy investment to Sagay City.Representatives of LakeSunEnergy Inc. met with Mayor Leo Rafael “Bebo” M. Cueva at the City Mayor’s Office to update the City Government on the proposed 101.200 MWAC Solar-on-Water PV Solar Project, August 26.LakeSunEnergy is a subsidiary of Mandaluyong-based SunAsia Energy, a press release from Sagay City said Monday, August 31.The company is currently working to secure financing and complete project requirements by December, with construction targeted to begin in early 2027, subject to the approval of permits, clearances, and other regulatory requirements.The project proposes to install s...

Aug312026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Bacolod ranks 3rd among PH’s fastest-growing economies

Business, Top Stories

Bacolod recorded a 6.8 percent economic growth rate.*Ronnie Baldonado file photoBacolod City ranked third among more than 33 highly urbanized cities (HUCs) in the country with the fastest-growing economies in 2025, Mayor Greg Gasataya announced.Citing the 2025 Provincial Product Accounts (PPA) report of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Gasataya said in a Facebook post Saturday, August 29, that Bacolod recorded a 6.8 percent economic growth rate, outpacing most cities nationwide.General Santos City topped the list with an 8.0 percent growth rate, followed by Cagayan de Oro City in second place at 7.4 percent.Iloilo City placed fourth at 6.1 percent, while Pasig City and Cebu City tied for fifth at 5.8 percent. Baguio City ranked sixth with 5.6 percent.Bacolod c...

Aug312026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

7-year-old boy, 2 others wounded in Hinigaran shooting over parked vehicle

Business, Top Stories

Three people, including a seven-year-old boy, were wounded after a man allegedly opened fire following an argument over a vehicle parked along a roadside in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental on Sunday morning, Aug. 30.The Hinigaran police said the shooting happened at around 11:25 a.m. along Osmeña Street in Brgy. 2.The victims were a 37-year-old woman, a 64-year-old man and the seven-year-old boy, all residents of the area.Police identified the suspect only as alias “Lino,” 52, a job order employee of the municipal water district and a resident of Brgy. Gargato.Initial investigation showed that the suspect allegedly asked the victims to move their family vehicle slightly to give way to his vehicle.A heated argument followed, after which the suspect allegedly went to his veh...

Aug312026 by Darryl John EsguerraNo Comments

Recto: New ecozones in Dumaguete, 3 other areas to draw P9.7-B investments

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Executive Secretary Ralph Recto*PNA file photoFour newly proclaimed economic zones are expected to attract nearly PHP9.7 billion in fresh investments and generate new jobs, bringing to 46 the total number of economic zones created or expanded under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.In a statement Monday, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said the four latest proclamations cover economic zones in Cavite, Batangas and Negros Oriental, supporting the administration’s thrust to spread investments and employment opportunities beyond Metro Manila.The 46 economic zones are projected to generate PHP141.2 billion in investments and nearly 189,000 jobs, according to Recto.Twenty-nine of the zones are in Luzon, 12 in the Visayas, and five in Mindanao. Only three are...

Aug312026 by Joann VillanuevaNo Comments

Red, yellow alert up for Visayas, Mindanao grids

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High demand amidst the low capacity has resulted to the issuance of red and yellow alerts for the Visayas and Mindanao grids on Monday, August 31.The red alert for the Visayas grid is up between 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and the yellow grid is between 10 p.m. to 11 p.m., according to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).For the Mindanao grid, the yellow alert is up between 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.NGCP issues yellow alert when a grid’s operating margin is short against the contingency requirement, while a red alert is up whenever capacity is short against the demand and the grid’s regulating requirement.Available capacity in the Visayas grid is around 2,059 megawatts (MW) while peak demand is projected to reach 2,305 MW.Supply is limited due to the unavailability of s...

Aug312026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Laborer stabbed dead while cutting lumber at Sipalay home, suspect hunted

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A 32-year-old laborer was stabbed dead allegedly by another man while cutting lumber at his residence in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday evening, Aug. 30.The Sipalay City police identified the victim only as alias “Eddie” and the suspect as alias “Mario,” 42, both residents of Purok Kamatis, Brgy. Mambaroto.Police said the incident happened at around 7:30 p.m.Based on the account of a minor who witnessed the incident, the victim was cutting lumber at their residence when the suspect allegedly arrived and pushed him to the ground.The suspect then allegedly stabbed the victim on the right side of his abdomen and wounded his left palm and fingers before fleeing.The victim was rushed to the Sipalay City Infirmary but was declared dead on arrival.Police ...

Aug312026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Bureau of Immigration nabs wanted American in Dumaguete

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Jason Michael Hill was arrested in Dumaguete City.*BI photoThe Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested a 45-year-old American wanted by U.S. authorities for an "underlying dangerous drugs charge" in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, it reported on Saturday, August 29.BI Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) agents, working with U.S. law enforcement agents, the Philippine National Police, as well as local police and maritime authorities, apprehended Jason Michael Hill, 45, at Purok St. John, Barangay Calindagan, on Ausust 11, the BI said..Hill is allegedly wanted in the United States for parole violation, with an underlying dangerous drugs charge, based on an outstanding warrant issued by the Sacramento County Superior Court in California.BI records further showed that Hill entered the Ph...