Top Stories

A 10-year-old boy drowned while swimming at a dumpsite pit in Sitio Nasuli, Brgy. Camalobalo, Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 18.Hinigaran police received the report at around 5:20 p.m. after the victim was brought to the emergency room of the Hinigaran Medical Clinic.Initial investigation showed that after dismissal from school, the child went swimming with classmates at a constructed dumpsite hole in the area.Police said the victim reportedly suffered muscle cramps in his feet while swimming and failed to reach a safe area.The Hinigaran Rescue Team retrieved the victim and rushed him to the clinic but the attending physician declared the child dead.Police reminded the public, especially parents and guardians, to closely monitor minors and av...

A 17-year-old female motorcycle rider was killed while her backrider was injured after their motorcycle crashed into a parked truck in Sitio Barila, Brgy. Camangcamang, Isabela, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday night, Feb. 18.The motorcycle, a Honda Click, was traveling from Isabela town proper toward Brgy. Camangcamang when it hit the rear of an Isuzu truck parked along the roadside.Authorities said the truck was facing south at the time of the collision.The motorcycle driver, a Grade 12 student and a resident of Brgy. Camangcamang , sustained severe injuries and was pronounced dead by the attending physician at the Ignacio Lacson Arroyo Sr. Memorial District Hospital.The backrider, an 18-year-old female student, suffered injuries to her face and mouth and is undergoing med...

Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District)*The House Committee on Higher and Technical Education (CHTE) has appointed Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) as permanent representative to the Board of Regents (BOR) of the Carlos Hilado Memorial State University.The designation, effective January 1, 2026 until June 30, 2028, was issued by CHTE Chairperson Rep. Jude Acidre pursuant to Section 3 of Republic Act No. 8292 or the Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997.Under the law, the CHTE chairperson serves as an ex-officio member of the governing boards of all state universities and colleges (SUCs).As designated permanent representative, Benitez is authorized to perform the powers, prerogatives and duties of a Board member under Sections 4, 5 and 6...

A backhoe that bears the logo of the provincial government of Negros Oriental destroys illegal pyrotechnics in this photo taken in early January.*Government projects and equipment that were privately funded or donated are also covered by the government's anti-“epal" drive, a Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) official in Negros Oriental said on Thursday, Feb. 19.DILG - Negros Oriental Director Farah Gentuya said that this is the position of DILG - Negros Island Region (NIR), in line with DILG Memorandum Circular 2026-006, issued on Jan. 29, which prohibits incumbent government officials from putting their names, faces, logos, or initials on government-funded projects and equipment from the provincial to the barangay levels.“The contention of the NIR legal of...

The Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) grounds are ready for the opening of the 21st Bacolaodiat Festival, which kicks off today, Feb. 20, and runs until Sunday, Feb. 22.The annual festivities celebrate the Lunar New Year, ushering in the Year of the Fire Horse.Day 1 begins with an opening ceremony at 4 p.m. Friday.Organizers and city officials will then lead the opening of the Imperial Village, where festival-goers can explore traditional Chinese arts and crafts; the Emperor's Market, offering a diverse selection of food; and the "Walls of Fortune" Mural-Painting Contest and Exhibit.These activities will be followed by the Ceremonial Lights On at 6 p.m.The three-day celebration at the BCGC grounds will also feature nightly entertainment, as well as a Lantern Dance C...

PhilRice-Negros Director Ommal Abdulkadil (center) receives the certificate of accreditation as a farm tourism camp for their facility in Murcia, Negros Occidental, from Municipal Tourism Officer Estela Barbo (right) and staff Tania Paula Caguan on Wednesday.*The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) Negros in Murcia, Negros Occidental, is now accredited as a farm tourism camp after meeting the national standards for operating such a destination.The certificate of accreditation granted by the Department of Tourism (DOT)-Western Visayas was received by DA-PhilRice Negros Station Director Ommal Abdulkadil from Municipal Tourism Officer Estela Barbo on Wednesday.“It’s a privilege for the local government unit (LGU) of Murcia to see PhilRice-Neg...

The ₱1.2-billion bulk water project was designed to shift from groundwater to surface water sources.*Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Wednesday, Feb. 18, that he respects the decision of the Silay Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) denying the provincial government’s request for a Resolution of No Objection (RONO) for its proposed ₱1.2 billion Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project.Lacson said he has no “hard feelings” following the Silay SP’s decision.The provincial government may scrap the bulk water project entirely or proceed with one on a smaller scale, he said.They are not considering asking for a reconsideration from the Silay SP, Lacson said.“We are still thinking on whether to continue on a smaller scale,” he said.The Silay City Sangguniang ...

The New People’s Army claimed responsibility for shooting a farmer to death in Barangay Santol, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 17.Police reported that the shooting happened at around 2:30 p.m. in Sitio Sulbod, where a 48-year-old married farmer was killed while his 25-year-old companion was wounded.The Binalbagan police said the victims were in a sugarcane field where the farmer was clearing rocks from the road to allow a sugarcane truck to pass while harvested cane was being loaded.Authorities said unidentified suspects suddenly fired several gunshots from a distance.The farmer sustained gunshot wounds to his right arm and head and was declared dead at the Ignacio Lacson Arroyo Sr. Memorial District Hospital, while the wounded laborer was reporte...