Top Stories

A 28-year-old man was found dead beside the Binalbagan River in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, July 29, after he was believed to have been electrocuted while fishing.Police identified the victim only by the alias “Hem,” a laborer and resident of Brgy. Quintin Remo.The victim’s wife told police that her husband left their home at around 7 a.m. to fish in the river using an improvised electrocution device but failed to return.A witness later found the victim unresponsive beside the river in Sitio Palaypay at around 11:45 a.m. and sought help from his father, who informed the victim’s family.The body was brought to a funeral home before the incident was reported to the Moises Padilla Municipal Police Station at around 5:30 p.m.Investigators said the victi...

Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said the House of Representatives is crafting what could become the country's first comprehensive artificial intelligence law following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s declaration in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) that "AI is here to stay."Benitez, who heads the Technical Working Group on Artificial Intelligence under the House Committee on Information and Communications Technology, said lawmakers are drafting the proposed Artificial Intelligence Development and Regulation Act, which seeks to promote AI innovation while putting safeguards in place to protect Filipinos."We are creating the AI Development and Regulation Act. The principle is we will not stifle innovation but regulate the risks of its applications," Benitez...

Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya*The Bacolod City government will do its share to complete the Bacolod City General Hospital in Barangay Vista Alegre , Mayor Greg Gasataya assured on Wednesday, July 29.“While the Department of Public Works and Highways implements the construction, the city government, together with the Department of Health, will provide for the necessary medical equipment,” he said.“Our priority is to see this building finished and fully operational so that we can immediately deliver the healthcare services our people deserve,” the mayor added.The assurance came after Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri stated on Tuesday that the Bacolod City government and the DOH should allocate funds for the hospital's medical equipment.Zubiri said that the additio...

         In a move aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility,  the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod has unanimously approved a resolution directing a comprehensive review of approximately ₱5.87 billion in total loans obtained by the Bacolod City government from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) under two previous administrations.Authored by Councilor Caesar Z. Distrito, the resolution designates the Committees on Appropriations and Finance, Laws, and Government Assets to coordinate directly with the Local Finance Committee, the DBP, and all concerned city offices.The joint body will determine the complete status of every loan entered into by the local government during the administrations...

Crab pickers in EB Magalona. *Ronnie Baldonado photoAs blue swimming crab prices continue to plunge due to the United States' import restrictions on Philippine crab products, the local government of E.B. Magalona is launching an "eat-all-you-can" crab night to generate additional income for fisherfolk, crab pickers, vendors and processors affected by the crisis.Mayor Matthew Louis Malacon said on Wednesday, July 29, that the initiative is part of the municipality's response to the export ban, which has sharply reduced demand for blue swimming crabs.Malacon said the buying price of blue swimming crabs has dropped to around P120 to P180 per kilogram from about P320 per kilogram before the US restrictions took effect."The objective is to provide another source of income becaus...

A total of 167 personnel of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region received new ranks during an oath-taking, donning and pinning ceremony in Bacolod City on Wednesday, July 29.The ceremony was held at the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office covered court in Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr., Brgy. Estefania.PRO-NIR Regional Director Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño led the ceremony attended by police officials, personnel, representatives of the National Police Commission-Negros Island Region and the families of the newly promoted officers.The promoted personnel included 18 police majors, four police captains, 12 police lieutenants, 42 police chief master sergeants, five police senior master sergeants, 20 police master sergeants, 34 police staff sergeants and 32 police co...

A substance recovered from a 17-year-old student inside a school in Brgy. Granada, Bacolod City, tested positive for marijuana, the police said Wednesday, July 29.Bacolod City Police Director  Col. Eugene Rebadomia said the forensic examination confirmed that the substance seized from the minor on July 22 was marijuana.The suspected illegal drugs were discovered inside the student’s bag during an inspection conducted by a school security guard.Authorities recovered three sachets containing about eight grams of marijuana with an estimated value of P960.Rebadomia said the minor will undergo appropriate intervention programs with assistance from social welfare authorities.The identity of the student was withheld because he is a minor.*

The BTTMD at the Bacolod-Negros Occidental Economic Highway in Barangay Sum-ag,Wednesday afternoon *BCCO photoAs part of the Bacolod City government's ongoing campaign against traffic violations, authorities confiscated 19 driver's licenses and towed 21 vehicles along the Bacolod-Negros Occidental Economic Highway in Barangay Sum-ag, Bacolod, on Wednesday afternoon, July 29.The operation was conducted around 4 p.m. by personnel from the Bacolod Traffic and Transport Management Department (BTTMD) to ensure road safety, the city government reported.The impounded vehicles included 11 tricycles, eight motorcycles, and two e-bikes.*