Top Stories

A section of the Bago River Irrigation System.*NIA photoThe dry spell has caused the water level at the Bago River Irrigation System (BRIS) to drop but there is still adequate water supply for the rice farms that it covers.The release of water for the irrigation of the north and south sections of the about 11,000 hectares covered by the BRIS is scheduled so it can cover all areas, Pedro Limpangog, Federation of Irrigators Association of Central Negros - Bago River Irrigation System (FIACN-BRIS) president, said Monday.The BRIS serves farmlands in Bago, Bacolod and La Carlota cities and the municipalities of Murcia, Pulupandan, San Enrique, Pontevedra and Valladolid.The dry spell has damaged P16,873,675 in Negros Occidental rice crops, mostly in rainfed areas not covered by t...

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said "the fight is not over yet”.A Negros Church and labor leader welcomed the Senate’s approval on third and final reading of a landmark bill proposing a P100 increase in the daily minimum wage of workers in the private sector.Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the passage of Senate Bill No. 2534 “is a big step towards the eventual enactment of increased wages, but the fight is not over yet”.Zubiri, who has roots in Negros, said “to those who are against this: let's listen to the Filipino workers. Let's give them immediate relief in the face of high commodity prices”.San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said anything that will redound to the good of the workers is welcome. “Without labor, capital will not grow”, he said.Wennie Sa...

The police arrested a man wanted for alleged murder in Brgy. Ubos, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, recently.Arrested was alias “Felipe”, 34, of Brgy. Kalamtukan, Bayawan, the Police Regional Office-7 said.He was tagged as the sixth most wanted person in Bayawan City for alleged murder and attempted murder charges.His warrant of arrest was issued by Judge Maria Myla Rae Santos Orden of the Regional Trial Court Branch 63 in Bayawan City.There was no bail recommended for the murder case while bail was fixed at P120,000 for the attempted murder raps.The suspect is now detained at the Bayawan City Police Station.*

A restaurant crew was arrested after P108,800 worth of suspected shabu was seized from him in a buy-bust operation in Sitio Cabug Baybay, Brgy. Guinhalaran, Silay City, Negros Occidental, 3:33 p.m. Monday, February 19, the police said.Arrested was Salvador Tejada Jr., 45, a restaurant crew from Purok Swimming Pool, Brgy. Mambulac, Silay City, the police said.Recovered from him were four heat-sealed sachets of suspected shabu weighing 16 grams.The suspect is now detained at the Silay City Police Station, while the recovered drug items were brought to the Negros Occidental Provincial Forensic Unit 6 for examination.*

Philippine Army soldiers and the police seized firearms and explosive devices in an operation at Sitio Makilo, Brgy. Camansi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, on Monday, February 19.The joint operation of the 47th and 15th Infantry Battalions of the Philippine Army and the 604th Regional Mobile Force Company of the police was conducted after a tip from a concerned citizen, a 47IB press statement said.Recovered were a 357 revolver, a homemade 12-gauge shotgun, two unserviceable .38 caliber revolvers, a grenade, a command wire for an improvised explosive device, blasting cap with wire, ammunition, empty bullet shells, a holster, printer, subversive documents, medical handbook, and various medical supplies.A significant number of buried weapons and explosives were discovered th...

Firefighters battle the blaze in Victorias City.*Team Javi Benitez Facebook page photoA fire hit 10 houses at Ditching Subdivision in Brgy. 5, Victorias City, at about 2:54 p.m. Monday, February 19.The fire destroyed nine of the houses and damaged one, F01 Dave Kevin Duaban of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) – Victorias, said.Total damage was estimated at P750,000, Duaban said.The fire started from the house of Reynaldo Dinigaya who also had a vulcanizing shop, he said.Witnesses said the fire came from the electrical wiring, but the cause of the blaze is still under investigation, Duaban said.The fire quickly spread because of strong wind and the houses were made of light materials, he added.Victorias Mayor Javier Benitez visits the fire victims*Team Javi Be...

Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez (4th from right) turning over the equipment for the Sidlak Victorias Media Productions*Victorias PIO photoVictorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez announced the upcoming launching of the Sidlak Victorias Media Productions (SVMP), the city’s official arm for radio and TV production, during the flag-raising ceremony at the City Public Plaza on Monday, February 19.Through the SVMP, Victorias City will soon have its own radio station to facilitate communication for all Victoriahanons, especially those who are residing in far-flung areas, Benitez said in a press release from the city’s Public Information Office .Benitez said that 88.9 will be its official radio frequency.The mayor turned over various equipment for the first phase of S...

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Bacolod City has scheduled a two-month satellite voter registration in various barangays and schools from February to April ahead of the May 2025 mid-term elections.During the first off-site registration held at the covered court of Barangay Pahanocoy on February 17, some 554 applicants were accommodated by the Comelec, data on Monday showed.The next schedule will be on February 24 at the Banago Elementary School covered court; March 1 – Mandalagan barangay hall; March 2 – Barangay Alijis gymnasium; March 9 – Punta Taytay barangay hall; March 15 – Barangay Bata gymnasium, Purok Marapara; March 16 – Barangay Mansilingan gymnasium; March 22 – Barangay Felisa gymnasium; March 23 – Taculing Gonzaga gymnasium; April 6 – Barangay Villamonte gymnas...

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran (6th and 2nd from left) with Councilors Renecito Novero, Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Vladimir Gonzales, Em Ang, Cindy Rojas and Jason Villarosa (l-r) at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bataan.*Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez led a group of Bacolod City government officials and department heads on a three-day “benchmarking” trip to Bataan and three cities in Pampanga.The trip to learn from the best practices of those areas was geared towards further enhancing programs being implemented in Bacolod City, he said.Joining the mayor on the trip from Saturday to Monday, February 17 to 19, were Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, councilors Em Ang, Cindy Rojas, Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Vladimir Gonzales, Jason Villarosa and Rene...

Student-applicants for CCEAP at the Cadiz Arena during the weekend.* Bilis Cadiz photoCadiz City's "unique scholarship" program drew more than 5,000 student-applicants for the second semester of school year 2023-2024 at the Cadiz Arena on Saturday and Sunday, February 17 and 18, Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. said.The scholarships are open to old and new scholars and even to walk-in college students as long as they are bonafide Cadiz residents, Escalante said in a press release on Monday, February 19.Processing of applications will commence this week, and the final results will be announced before the second semester starts next week.The scholarship program is unique because the 23-year-old Cadiz City Education Assistance Program (CCEAP) is not just for the brightest or acade...