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The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Western Visayas has collaborated with Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU) to offer temporary employment opportunities for recent graduates and current students. The online applications for 500 slots opened on Thursday, April 11, for 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 graduates, and current students from all four campuses – Alijis, Binalbagan, Fortune Towne, and Talisay, a press release form  CHMSU said. Interested applicants may apply online through bit.ly/CashForWorkCHMSU, it said. The applications will run until April 18, or as soon as all slots are filled. Current students are required to submit digital copies (image file) of their school ID and certification (certificate of enrollment)....

Four bishops of the Roman Catholic Church, Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), and the United Church of Christ of the Philippines (UCCP) in Negros Island are calling  for a permanent ceasefire in Palestine. The One Negros Ecumenical Council (ONE-C) bishops in a solidarity message released Friday, April 12, said they stand together with those suffering in Palestine. Gaza still under siege in occupied Palestine, they said. “Despite the denial of this occupation by some countries who could play a significant part to help stop the violence, peoples across the globe, including international humanitarian agencies, continue to clamor for an immediate ceasefire,” they said.  “Israel, one of the world's top military powers and one of the few nuclear p...

MORE Power president and CEO Roel Castro and Vice President for Network Development and Operations Group Bailey Castillo with  NGCP officials during the ceremonial energization of the Cebu-Negros-Panay backbone project in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.* MORE Power, a local distribution utility, on Friday, April 12, said   the energization  of the Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) 230-kilovolt  backbone project brings   significant relief to the entire Panay and Negros Islands.  Roel Z. Castro, president and chief executive officer of MORE Power and Negros Power, complimented the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines for successfully concluding the project during its  simultaneous ceremonial energization on  Monday, April 8. "This mark...

The Department of Education (DepEd)  announced  on Friday that there will be no face-to face classes nationwide  on Monday and Tuesday, April 15 and 16. ”In order to allow learners to complete pending assignments, projects, and other requirements as the end of school year is fast-approaching, all public schools nationwide shall implement asynchronous classes/distance learning on April 15-16,” the DepEd advisory said. Teaching and non-teaching personnel in all public schools will not be required to report to their respective stations, it said. However, activities organized by regional and schools division offices, such as regional athletic association meets and other division or school level programs, to be conducted on Monday and Tuesday may push t...

Are 10 years of consultations not enough time?That was the reaction of Rep. Manuel Sagarbarria (Neg. Or., 2nd District) on Thursday, April 11, to the Diocese of Dumaguete’s call for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to veto Senate Bill No. 2507 seeking the creation of the Negros Island Region for "grave lack of fair, just and truthful consultation".Marcos, who was in Bacolod Monday, said he is signing the bill creating the NIR into law to unify the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor into one administrative region.Sagarbarria said the veto call by the Diocese of Dumaguete led by Bishop Julito Cortes is their prerogative.“This (NIR push) has been going on for the longest time, 10 years or more. Is that not enough time for consultation?” he asked.“W...

The San Carlos City government is now rationing water to Sipaway Island, Mayor Renato Gustilo said Thursday, April 11.The water from the mainland is being rationed through an underwater pipe to the island that is a popular tourist destination, he said.The potable water supply of the island that has about 4,000 residents has been affected by the drought, he said.The rationing began last week.Gustilo said San Carlos City’s crops have also been affected by the dry spell but he is still determining if a state of calamity should be declared.The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist has placed the drought damage to San Carlos City’s rice crops at P2.3 millioThe total Negros Occidental crop damage is P115.2 million, it said.*

Mayor  Renato Gustilo with  Andy Himongala, Mac Devy Obenieta, and Vincent Rito Ortigas.*San Carlos LGU photoThe San Carlos City government bestowed Citizen Lifesaver Awards  to three residents  who revived a boy who drowned  on Easter Sunday, March 31. San Carlos  Mayor Renato Gustilo and Vice Mayor Christopher Paul Carmona bestowed the awards on Andy Himongala, Mac Devy Obenieta, and Vincent Rito Ortigas   at the lobby of the San Carlos city hall  on Thursday, April 11.The three demonstrated their bravery and quick thinking by rescuing and performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a 13-year-old boy from Fatima Village, Brgy. Rizal, a post on the San Carlos City Facebook page  said.  The boy drowned while swimm...

The San Carlos football champions*The San Carlos City government gave its little footballer champions in the 2024 Real Madrid Foundation Clinics World Challenge in Madrid, Spain, a heroes’ welcome on Thursday, April 11.The athletes who won in the Silver Phase U12 Category joined a motorcade along the major streets of San Carlos City.Mayor Renato Gustilo commended the team for a job well done, and reminded them to remain humble. He also gave a P20,000 cash incentive to each player, a press release from the city government said.The 12-menber man team composed of Felex Rey Caballero, Mark Ross Mabesa, Twirl Gelito, Mathew Jacob Pamilar, Klent Paul Montilla, Franz Mekael Jhay Salvador, Christian Paul Limpio, Frenchzuet Macrhyl Subrado, John Jacob Sildura, Dhrey Miguel, Ivan Dio...

The body of a 94-year-old man was found in Sitio Mabinlang, Brgy. Panalaan, Bais City, Negros Oriental, Wednesday, April 10. The victim had been missing since March 26, the police, who withheld his name, said. The victim was identified by his family through his clothes. He had reportedly been suffering from loss of memory. The victim might have fallen off a cliff that caused his death, the police said. The police are still investigating whether foul play was involved or not.* 

A 12-year-old girl died and eight others were injured after a Canter truck fell on the  side of the road in  Brgy. Isio, Cauayan town, Negros Occidental, Tuesday night, April 9.Cauayan Police Chief, Lt. Col. Gary Allan Resuma, said that there were nine passengers on the truck, including the driver, all from Sipalay City. The passengers were all relatives who had attended a birthday party in Ilog town. The driver allegedly fell asleep and lost  control of the vehicle causing it to fall of the side of the road The police added that all passengers, except for the minor, were under the influence of alcohol.*