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Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez (l-r)*Local political groups  Love Negros and the United Negros Alliance (UNegA) should convene to discuss whether they will field a unified candidate for governor of Negros Occidental in 2028, Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo "Albee" Benitez said Friday, Sept. 11.“I don’t think there should be any individual or one person who should decide what will happen. It is a collective decision and consensus of all members of both groups,” Benitez said.Benitez noted that while discussions between the two groups  are likely ongoing, he is open to initiating  talks himself or asking Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson to call a meeting.The statement comes amid political speculation surrounding potential...

The police arrested a 27-year-old man and seized about P1.1 million worth of stolen items and a loaded .22 caliber revolver  in Brgy. Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City.The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region said the incident happened at Greenplains Subdivision at around 10:45 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9Police identified the suspect only as alias “JC,” a resident of Brgy. Banago.Initial investigation showed that the homeowner discovered the suspect inside the residence after he had allegedly forced his way in and taken several personal belongings.The victim immediately sought police assistance.When confronted, the suspect allegedly attempted to escape by jumping over a hollow-block fence.Responding personnel of Police Station 8 pursued and cornered him.Pol...

The document was left in the residence’s mailbox after no one was found at the property, the LTO-NIR said.*The Land Transportation Office-Negros Island Region has served a resolution holding the registered owner of a van administratively accountable after the vehicle allegedly evaded a routine inspection in Talisay City, Sept. 11.LTO-NIR said the incident happened on July 7, when the van allegedly failed to stop for law enforcement personnel during an inspection.The agency subsequently issued a show cause order as part of its investigation.LTO-NIR said the registered owner was held administratively accountable for failing to exercise due diligence over the use of the vehicle.Personnel of the agency’s Intelligence and Investigation Unit attempted to personally serve the ...

The Miss MassKara 2026 bets with the city’s 2025 reigning queens.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe  15 Miss Bacolod MassKara 2026 candidates were introduced during the launch of this year’s MassKara Festival at Roy’s Hotel in Bacolod City on Friday morning, Sept. 11.“In line with our thrust to bring the MassKara back to the grassroots, this year, for the first time, the Miss Bacolod MassKara contestants will be representing their barangays,” MassKara Festival Director Rodney Mitz Ascalon said.This year’s contestants are Aleyssa Dionio of Barangay Alijis, Hannah Damasco of Barangay 29, Margarette Ymballa of Barangay Taculing, Jasper Anne Lucero of Barangay Mandalagan, Ma. Zonora Ellyssa Curaza of Barangay Sum-ag, Eurica Cielo C. Abarro of Barangay Estefania, Ashley Nicole R. Andrade of...

he Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has ordered the regional implementation of the Secondary Price Cap (SPC) in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), applying it retroactively to the August 2026 billing period to curb soaring power rates in Visayas and Mindanao.The regulatory body acted motu proprio after internal data revealed persistent supply tightness in August 2026, during which Visayas and Mindanao registered 652 hours and 89 hours of combined Red and Yellow Alerts, respectively, a press statement posted by ERC on its facebook page Thursday evening DSept. 10, said.Spot market prices surged to peaks of PhP18,590 per megawatt-hour (MWh) in Visayas and PhP19,560/MWh in Mindanao, it said.Despite the severe local spikes, the existing system-wide SPC mechanism failed ...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson presides over the 3rd quarter Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council meeting Thursday.* Richard Malihan photoThe  Negros Occidental provincial government is preparing for a “super, super El Niño”, the height of which is expected to be felt starting October to hopefully only the first quarter of 2027, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Thursday, Sept. 10.“Hopefully it will not go beyond the first quarter”, said Lacson, who presided over the 3rd quarter Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council meeting at the Negros Occidental Capitol in Bacolod City.The entire province of Negros Occidental is forecast to be affected by El Niño, he said, adding that they received a report that Hinigaran is already feel...

Negotiations at Purok Katilingban, Barangay 39, Bacolod City, Thursday.* Richard Caballero Jr. photoThe Bacolod City Legal Office temporarily halted  its planned demolition of houses  in Purok Katilingban, Barangay 39, Bacolod City, following intense negotiations with a group called Hiligaynon Sectoral Tribal Incorporated on Thursday, Sept. 10.Authorities said that the land where some members of the group reside is owned by the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental and will be used for the construction of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) building.Enrico Nicor, the tribal chieftain, claimed that the lot was owned by a certain Acopiado of DGMA DAMA Foundation Incorporated and that the title had been transferred to the residents.However, authorit...

Alvarado and Hilado*Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Thursday, Sept. 10, that it is an honor that two Negrenses have been named National Artists.Through Proclamation No. 1414, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared 10 Filipinos as National Artists of the Philippines.Among them are Nunelucio Alvarado of Sagay City for Visual Arts and Teodoro Ledesma Hilado from Silay City for Theater.Alvarado, 76, is a social realist artist famous for immortalizing the struggles of seasonal sugarcane workers (sakadas) in his paintings. Hilado is being  posthumously recognized as the “Father of Lighting Design in Philippine Theater”.“It is an honor for us Negrenses that two of our own were named national artists,” Lacson said."I would like to congratul...