Bacolod intensifies efforts for drug-free workplace

The Bacolod City Government Center,*PNA file photoiThe Bacolod City government here has intensified efforts in achieving a drug-free workplace through the conduct of a series of random drug tests for employees targeted to start by the end of this month.As part of the preparations, the drug-free workplace committee, together with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Negros Island Region Director Marjorie Ballesteros, discussed the implementing guidelines in a coordination meeting led by City Administrator Mark Steven Mayo on July 7.In an interview on Wednesday, Mayor Greg Gasataya said that discussions have already begun and that concerns regarding the conduct of drug testing for city government employees will be addressed in the next meeting.“Although it’s not mandatory, eve...

Jul82026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Classes in NegOr, some NegOcc LGUs suspended ahead of ‘Inday’

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Governor Manuel L. Sagarbarria has ordered the suspension of classes at all levels in both public and private schools across Negros Oriental on Thursday, July 9, ahead of the anticipated impact of Typhoon Bavi, locally known as “Inday”.The directive, contained in Executive Order No. 48, Series of 2026, was issued as a pre-emptive safety measure based on recommendations from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRMC). While in-person classes are canceled, educational institutions are encouraged to implement alternative modes of learning, such as online or modular instruction, to maintain continuity where feasible, the governor said.The province-wide suspension comes in response to weather advisories from the Philippine Atmospheri...

Jul82026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Blue alert up in NegOcc with ‘Inday’, southwest monsoon to bring rains; evacuation in 3 LGUs reported

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Emergency Operations Center (PDRRMC EOC) alert status has been raised to blue, effective immediately, in anticipation of heavy rains brought on by the Southwest Monsoon enhanced by Tropical Cyclone "Inday."“A Blue Alert is raised when a threat is identified but has not yet made a full impact. It is used for slow-onset hazards or when a situation has the potential to escalate,” Irene Bel Ploteña, Negros Occidental PDRRMO head, said this afternoon.Concurrently, with the prevailing Alert Level 2 (intensified unrest) over Kanlaon Volcano, the red alert status at the PDRRMC EOC shall remain in effect for close monitoring and coordination, she said.The Office of Civil Defense reported that heavy rains tri...

Jul82026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Focus crimes in NIR down 44.94% in June

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Focus crime incidents across the Negros Island Region declined by 44.94 percent in June compared with the same month last year, the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region said.The PRO-NIR reported on Tuesday, July 7, decreases in most of the crime categories monitored during the period.Murder cases dropped by 5 percent, from 20 incidents in June 2025 to 19 in June this year.Homicide cases decreased by 71.43 percent, from seven incidents to two, while physical injury cases fell by 88.89 percent, from nine to one.Robbery cases declined by 16.67 percent, from six incidents to five.Theft cases also decreased by 25 percent, from 16 incidents to 12.Motorcycle carnapping cases went down by 33.33 percent, from six incidents to four.No motor vehicle carn...

Jul82026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

NIR’s 3rd most wanted person arrested for murder in Canlaon City

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Police arrested the Negros Island Region’s third most wanted person in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, on Tuesday afternoon, July 7.The accused was identified as alias “Jon,” 53, a resident of Sitio Kalubihan, Brgy. Linothangan, Canlaon City.Personnel of the Canlaon City Police Station arrested him at around 2:53 p.m. in Brgy. Mabigo during a manhunt operation.Police said the arrest was carried out by virtue of a warrant for murder.The accused allegedly conspired with other suspects in the fatal shooting of a victim in Brgy. Linothangan.The accused is detained at the Canlaon City Police Station for proper disposition of the case.Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region Director PBGen. Romano Cardiño said authorities will continue intensified manhunt operatio...

Jul82026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

BCPO seizes P26.4M in shabu, arrests 10 suspects in weeklong operations

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BCPO City Director Col. Eugene Rebadomia (center) presented the figures during a press conference Wednesday.*BCPO photoThe Bacolod City Police Office seized more than P26.4 million worth of suspected shabu and arrested 10 drug suspects during operations conducted from June 29 to July 5.BCPO City Director Col. Eugene Rebadomia presented the figures during a press conference at the police headquarters on Wednesday, July 8.Police said nine anti-drug operations during the period resulted in the confiscation of about 3,884.1 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of P26,411,880.The BCPO also arrested 13 wanted persons, including one most wanted person and 12 other individuals with pending warrants.Five operations against illegal gambling led to the ar...

Jul82026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Negros Island inflation slows further to 4.9 percent in June, lowest outside NCR

Business, Top Stories

Inflation in the Negros Island Region slowed further to 4.9 percent in June from 5.4 percent in May, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported.PSA in a report of Tuesday, July 7, said NIR recorded the lowest inflation rate among all regions outside the National Capital Region during the month.Among the Visayas regions, NIR posted the lowest inflation, followed by Western Visayas at 6.8 percent and Eastern Visayas at 7 percent.Central Visayas recorded the highest inflation rate in the country at 10 percent, although this was lower than its 10.8-percent rate in May.NIR’s 4.9-percent inflation was also equal to the rate recorded in Metro Manila.PSA data showed that 13 regions outside Metro Manila registered slower inflation in June compared with the previous month...

Jul82026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Environmental group urges Gasataya to address Bacolod waste crisis in SOCA

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An environmental group called on Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya to present a clear and time-bound plan for addressing the city’s waste problem during his State of the City Address this afternoon, July 8.The Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment issued the statement hours before Gasataya’s address, urging the city government to fully implement Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.NICE said Bacolod is already struggling with the volume of waste it generates and questioned proposals that would allow the city to receive garbage from other local government units.The group alleged that the city’s landfill is filling up rapidly, while residents of Brgy. Felisa continue to experience foul odors, clogged waterways, flooding, and possible heal...

Jul72026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

NegOcc SP holds hearing on ordinance to protect small fisherfolk

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The Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) held a public hearing on Tuesday morning, July 7, on a proposed ordinance designed to shield the livelihoods of small-scale fishermen from large commercial fishing vessels.“There is an ordnance protecting small fishermen but we want to strengthen it that is why we held a public hearing”, Board Member Andrew Montelibano, SP Committee on Environment chairman, said.“We drafted the ordinance but we are giving the small fishermen 15 days to submit their inputs on what they want revised or added”, he said.Also present at the hearing were representatives of local government units who will also submit their proposals, Montelibano said. &...

Jul72026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Bacolod to shoulder free transfer of 450 remains from typhoon-damaged Burgos Cemetery; city dismisses Megaworld sale rumors

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The damaged tombs at the Burgos Public Cemetery.*BCCO photoThe Bacolod City government will shoulder all expenses for the mass transfer of approximately 450 human remains from deteriorating tombs at the Burgos Public Cemetery to a newly constructed bone vault at the Handumanan Public Cemetery.City officials issued the assurance during a meeting with over 100 affected families at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) lobby on Tuesday, July 7, to iron out the phased relocation plan, which was prompted by severe typhoon damage that has left some remains exposed.During the dialog representatives from the General Services Office (GSO) and the City Administrator’s Office explained the urgent need to move the remains from the damaged niches situated along the cemetery...