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Sep302026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

15 women to represent Bacolod barangays in Miss MassKara 2026

Fifteen women will represent 15 barangays in Miss Bacolod MassKara 2026 as the pageant introduces a community-based format and puts a “Celebration of Women” at the center of this year’s competition.The Bacolod Gugma Foundation, organizer of the MassKara Festival 2026, said on Wednesday, Sept. 30, that this will be the first time candidates will officially represent barangays in the pageant.The candidates are Aleyssa Dionio of Alijis, Hannah Damasco of Brgy. 29, Margarette Ymballa of Taculing, Jasper Anne Lucero of Mandalagan, Ma. Zonora Ellyssa Curaza of Sum-ag, Eurica Cielo Abarro of Estefania, Ashley Nicole Andrade of Granada;Jeaven Icy Musni of Tangub, Julie Mikayla Borja of Mansilingan, Lourdeth Codico of Bata, Macy Alaine Albarico of Singcang, Daniella Louisse Merelos of B...

Sep302026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

CAFGU member killed, 2 soldiers wounded in Escalante clash

Police, Top Stories

A member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) was killed and two soldiers were wounded in an armed encounter in Brgy. Malasibog, Escalante City, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 29.The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) said personnel of the 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB), including members of its Mobile Community Support and Sustainment Program team, were conducting a security patrol in Sitio Bautista when they encountered an armed group.The firefight lasted for about 10 minutes, the Army said.One CAFGU Active Auxiliary member was killed, while two soldiers were wounded and brought to a hospital.The Army said the wounded soldiers were in stable condition.The 3ID attributed the attack to remnants of the communist armed movement, althoug...

Sep302026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

NACUSIP, ARB’s call for 100% classification of country’s sugar for domestic market to protect farmers

Business, Top Stories

NACUSIP President Roland de la Cruz.*The National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP TUCP) and the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Council (ARB Council) are calling on the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to classify 100 percent of the country's sugar production as "B" (Domestic Market) for Crop Year 2026–2027. In a joint position paper submitted to the regulatory agency, labor and agrarian leaders highlighted mounting production shortfalls driven by severe pest infestations and unpredictable weather patterns.An exclusive domestic allocation is critical to protect local farmers, mill workers, and consumers from severe price volatility and premature market flooding from foreign imports, NACUSIP President Roland de la Cruz said Wednesday,...

Sep292026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Philippines, Japan to strengthen sustainable sugarcane industry through Green Asia Plus

Business, Top Stories

SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona on top of the donated deep planting planters machine with Japanese officials led by Japan Minister for Economic Affairs Yokota Naobumi (2nd from right), JIRCAS President, Dr Hasegawa Toshihiro (4th from left) and SRA Board Member Dave Andrew Sanson (right).* SRA photoThe launching of Green Asia +, a collaborative project between the Philippines and Japan heralded the turnover to the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) of deep planting planters and partial deep tillage machines for sustainable sugarcane production in the country in a ceremony held Monday at the SRA headquarters in Quezon City. SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona who received the two machines that will be deployed in sugar producing areas in Mindanao and Luzon th...

Sep292026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Bacolod public plaza to host MassKara competitions, community events Oct. 9 to 16

Community, Top Stories

Bacolod City’s public plaza will host a series of competitions and community activities from Oct. 9 to 16 as part of the MassKara Festival 2026, featuring local dancers, student performers, market vendors and representatives of various sectors.The Bacolod Gugma Foundation announced on Tuesday, Sept. 29, that the activities will be held under the festival theme “Share The Smile. Celebrate Gugma.”Situation at Bacolod City Public Plaza days before the soft opening of 47th MassKara Festival.The plaza events will begin on Oct. 9 with the Choreographers Face Off, featuring homegrown dance talents representing different barangays in Bacolod.Elementary and high school students will compete in the Inter-School Drum and Lyre Corps Competition on Oct. 10, with nine elementary schools...

Sep292026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

P10.2M in suspected smuggled cigarettes seized in Himamaylan raid

Police, Top Stories

Authorities seized P10.2 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes and arrested a 22-year-old man during an operation in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, early Monday, Sept. 28.The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) identified the arrested suspect as alias Omar, while aliases Jun and Jake remain at large.Police said all three suspects are from Jolo, Sulu.The joint operation was conducted at around 2:55 a.m. in Sitio Batang, Brgy. Talaban, where authorities intercepted cigarettes reportedly being prepared for transport.Recovered during the operation were 63 master cases and 74 boxes of D&B cigarettes, as well as 25 master cases of YS Menthol and 102 boxes of YS Red cigarettes.The 176 boxes contained 25 reams each, according to PRO-NIR. ...

Sep292026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

2 arrested in separate telecom cable theft incidents in Bacolod

Police, Top Stories

Two men were arrested in separate operations involving suspected theft of telecommunications equipment in Bacolod City on Sept. 20 and 23, according to Globe Telecom’s Security Response Unit (SRU).In the latest operation, police and security personnel arrested alias “Rodman”, 27, at around 11:20 a.m. on Sept. 23 in connection with a series of reported cell site thefts in the city.The joint operation involved Globe SRU, FTAP, Philtower, Unity Security and the police.Authorities recovered remote radio unit (RRU) cables and a lithium battery reportedly taken from the FTAP/Globe cell site in Brgy. Handumanan.Another suspect, identified as alias “Ding”, escaped during the operation.Globe said a criminal complaint was being prepared against Vargas for inquest proceedings....

Sep292026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

P1.9M shabu seized in Bacolod buy-bust, 3 arrested

Police, Top Stories

Three persons, including a 17-year-old boy, were arrested after police seized an estimated P1.9 million worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Brgy. Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City, on Monday night, Sept. 28.Police Station 8 identified the adult suspects as alias "Koy", 45, alias Koy, a resident of Brgy. Villamonte, and alias "John", 25, a resident of Brgy. Singcang-Airport.The third suspect is a minor whose identity is being withheld.The operation was conducted at around 7:43 p.m. in Purok Grasya by personnel of Police Station 8.Police recovered approximately 280 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of P1,904,000.The seized items included a sachet of suspected shabu used in the buy-bust, four knot-tied plastic bags and six ...

Sep292026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Bacolod council seeks funding for social pension of first 1,000 qualified PWDs

Community, Top Stories

The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod has approved a resolution urging the city government to begin implementing its social pension program for persons with disabilities (PWDs), starting with at least 1,000 qualified beneficiaries already identified by barangay screening committees.In a press release on Sept. 29, it said the resolution, authored by Councilors Caesar Distrito and Celia Flor, calls on the City Social Services and Development Department (DSSD) and the City Budget Office, through Mayor Greg Gasataya, to provide the funding needed to implement the program.Distrito said the city could begin releasing assistance to the first 1,000 qualified PWDs while working toward the inclusion of more beneficiaries as additional funds become availableThe program was established un...

Sep292026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Bacolod extends free rides as transport strike enters second day

Business, Community, Top Stories

Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya (3rd from Left) is joined by City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu (right) and City Administrator Atty. Mark Steven Mayo (second from right) during a meeting with local transport leaders on Monday, Sept. 28.Bacolod City will continue providing free rides to commuters on Tuesday, Sept. 29, as a nationwide three-day transport strike over rising fuel prices enters its second day.Mayor Greg Gasataya directed the City Administrator’s Office and City Engineer’s Office to continue the city’s Libre Sakay operations following a meeting with transport leaders on Monday, Sept. 28.Free rides will be available at designated pickup points in Bata near the Mormons Church, Alijis at the Circumferential Road crossing near 7-Eleven, Handumanan at the barangay gym...