Tag: Negros Occidental news

Oct72026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

NPA claims responsibility for Escalante attack that killed CAFGU member, wounded 2 soldiers

The New People's Army has claimed responsibility for the Sept. 29 attack on government troops in Escalante City, Negros Occidental, that left one Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) member dead and two soldiers wounded.In a statement on Oct. 7, Ka Cecil Estrella, spokesperson of the Roselyn Jean Pelle Command-NPA Northern Negros Guerrilla Front, said its members carried out what it described as a harassment operation against personnel of the Army's 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) and CAFGU in Sitio Bautista, Brgy. Malasibog, at around 3 p.m.The NPA claimed its fighters opened fire on government troops conducting a patrol in the area, resulting in one fatality and two injuries on the government side.Estrella said the exchange of gunfire lasted about three minutes and ...

Oct72026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

3 Negros Island graduates among topnotchers in fisheries licensure exam, CHMSU-Binalbagan ranks 4th nationwide

Community, Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Three graduates of universities in the Negros Island Region secured places in the top 10 of the October 2026 Fisheries Professionals Licensure Examination, while Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU)- Binalbagan campus ranked fourth among the country's top-performing schools.Based on results released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on Tuesday, Oct. 6, Rain Jay Villamor Punayan of Negros Oriental State University-Bais Campus placed seventh nationwide with a rating of 88 percent.Halex Tabanao Pastor of the State University of Northern Negros (SUNN) secured eighth place with a rating of 87.75 percent.Josh Daniel Palma Nombre of Carlos Hilado Memorial State University-Binalbagan Campus ranked 10th with a rating of 87.25 percent.The three were among the...

Oct72026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Two men found dead in separate Victorias, Candoni incidents

Police, Top Stories

In Victorias City, an unidentified man was found lifeless inside a sugarcane plantation at Hacienda Angelina 1, Brgy. 12, at about 11:30 a.m.Two men were found dead in separate incidents in Victorias City and Candoni, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday, Oct. 6, police reported.In Victorias City, an unidentified man was found lifeless inside a sugarcane plantation at Hacienda Angelina 1, Brgy. 12, at about 11:30 a.m.Police said a farmworker passing through Field No. 14 noticed the man lying face down inside the plantation.The victim was wearing a black T-shirt and gray shorts and had several tattoos on different parts of his body.The discovery was reported to the Victorias City Police Station at about 11:40 a.m.Responding personnel proceeded to the area, while Scene of th...

Oct62026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Sagaynon makes history with Asian Games sepak takraw silver

Community, Sports, Top Stories

Abegail Sinogbuhan*Sagaynon athlete Abegail Sinogbuhan helped make Philippine sports history after the national women’s sepak takraw doubles team captured the silver medal at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games in Japan, the country’s best-ever finish in the sport at the continental games.Sinogbuhan, team captain and feeder, played alongside striker Jean Marie Sucalit, with Nelly Jay Salon as substitute, in the gold-medal match against Vietnam on Sept. 29 at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Gymnasium. Vietnam won the final, 15-8, 15-4.The silver marked the Philippines’ first-ever appearance in an Asian Games sepak takraw final and its highest finish in the sport since sepak takraw was introduced to the Games in 1990.It was also a historic breakthrough for the Philippine women’...

Oct62026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

NONECO, NOCECO raise September power rates while Negros Power posts slight cut

Business, Community, Top Stories

The varying movements came as distribution utilities in the Visayas dealt with higher Wholesale Electricity Spot Market costs following tight power supply conditions, generating plant outages and transmission constraints in August.*/ Ronnie Baldonado photoElectricity consumers in northern and southern Negros Occidental are paying higher residential rates for September, while customers of Negros Power in Bacolod and parts of central Negros saw a slight decrease, based on advisories issued by the province’s three distribution utilities.The Northern Negros Electric Cooperative recorded the highest September residential rate at P17.1454 per kilowatt-hour, up by P1.4054/kWh from P15.7400 in August.The Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative increased its residential rate to P16.0080/...

Oct62026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Negros Island inflation quickens to 6.9 percent in September, still below national rate

Business, Top Stories

For consumers, a 6.9 percent inflation rate does not mean that all goods and services became exactly 6.9 percent more expensive in one month.*/Ronnie Baldonado photoInflation in the Negros Island Region accelerated to 6.9 percent in September 2026 from 5.8 percent in August, meaning consumer prices in the region were, on average, 6.9 percent higher than they were in September last year.Despite the increase, NIR’s inflation remained below the 7.2 percent national rate and was the lowest among the four Visayas regions, based on data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority on Tuesday, Oct. 6.Western Visayas posted the highest inflation among the Visayas regions at 9.2 percent, followed by Central Visayas at 8.3 percent and Eastern Visayas at 8.2 percent.The national in...

Oct62026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

GCash parent opens IPO at P660 minimum for interested Negros investors

Business, Community, Top Stories

Residents of Bacolod City and Negros Occidental interested in owning shares in the company behind GCash can apply for a minimum of 100 shares worth P660 through the app starting Tuesday, Oct. 6.Mynt Inc., the parent company of the group behind GCash, has set its initial public offering (IPO) price at P6.60 per share. The offer runs until Oct. 12, the company said.An IPO allows the public to buy shares in a company before these begin trading on the stock exchange. Buying shares gives an investor a small ownership stake in the business.The Mynt offering is accessible through GStocks PH within GCash, powered by AB Capital Securities Inc.For orders placed on Oct. 6 and 7, the first 100 shares will be allocated in real time while shares last, according to the company.&n...

Oct52026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

MassKara streetdance returns with three-category competition at new arena venue

Community, Top Stories

Organizers said preparations are complete for the MassKara Festival 2026 Streetdance and Arena Competition, which will bring together elementary, high school and barangay contingents on at the SM City Bacolod grounds, Oct. 17 and 18.The Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc. said this year marks the return of a three-category competition after several years, with seven elementary schools, four high schools and eight barangays joining the festival showdown.Competing in the Elementary Category are Sum-ag Elementary School, Education and Training Center School II, Handumanan Elementary School I, Vista Alegre Elementary School, Mandalagan Elementary School, Vista Alegre-Granada Relocation Elementary School and Montevista Elementary School.The High School Category will feature Abkasa Nationa...

Oct52026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

TIEZA moves Bacolod plaza, NGC project deadline to Jan. 2027 as cost rises to P328M

Community, Top Stories

BOARD DOWN. The coverings surrounding the fountain area of the Bacolod City Government Center have already been removed on Monday, Oct. 5, although the area remains cordoned off as electrical works continue.*/Richard Caballero photoThe Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority has moved the contractual completion date of the redevelopment of the Bacolod City Government Center and Heritage Plaza to Jan. 27, 2027, following several work suspensions, weather delays and additional work that also raised the project cost to P328.09 million.TIEZA, however, said it and the contractor are still exerting efforts to complete the project within 2026.In a Sept. 30 letter to Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya, TIEZA said the project remains ongoing and cited work suspensions, inclement w...

Oct52026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Force multiplier shot dead while plowing field in Binalbagan

Police, Top Stories

A 55-year-old force multiplier was shot dead while plowing a field in a mountainous area of Brgy. Santol, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, Monday morning, Oct. 5.Binalbagan police chief Maj. Joey Mara identified the victim only as alias “Jolito,” a resident of the said barangay.Mara said the victim was working in a field at Sitio Kapaklan at around 7 a.m. when he was shot by still unidentified assailants.The victim died at the scene.Mara said police have yet to determine how many assailants were involved and are still waiting for the results of the crime scene investigation.Authorities are also examining the victim’s background as part of the investigation.Mara said the victim had no record at the Binalbagan Police Station.Police have yet to establish the motive f...