Tag: Negros Oriental

Oct112026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Alminaza: Visayas power crisis needs accountability, not blame over coal opposition

San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said opposition to coal and liquefied natural gas projects should not be blamed for the Visayas power crisis, calling instead for greater scrutiny of repeated plant outages, electricity costs and government energy planning.In a statement on Oct. 9, Alminaza said reliable electricity should be treated as an essential public service and called for transparency in power ownership, contracts and regulation.The bishop issued the statement following the Oct. 3 joint congressional hearing in Bacolod City on the recurring power problems affecting the Visayas.The House committees on Energy, Visayas Development and Legislative Franchises convened the hearing to examine generation and transmission problems, recurring supply interruptions and their impact...

Oct112026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Kanlaon eruption sends 5 to 6 km plume with ashfall, sulfur odor reported in Negros Occidental

Community, Top Stories

Sped-up camera footages of ash emission from Kanlaon Volcano shows that it generated a grayish plume that rose 600 meters above the summit crater before drifting general west, early morning of Oct. 11.*/Screengrab from PHILVOLCSA moderately explosive eruption of Kanlaon Volcano sent a volcanic plume as high as six kilometers above the summit, with ashfall, sulfur odor, booming sounds and ground shaking reported in parts of Negros Occidental on Saturday, Oct. 10.The eruption occurred from about 12:46 p.m. to 12:48 p.m., according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. The plume drifted north-northeast.The Office of Civil Defense-Negros Island Region said initial reports from Bago City indicated a visible volcanic cloud, booming sounds and ground sha...

Oct82026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Sugar order classifies 100 percent of country’s sugar for domestic market: SRA

Business, Community, Top Stories

The Sugar Board has approved Sugar Order No. 1 classifying 100 percent of the country’s sugar production for Crop Year 2026-2027 as “B" or Domestic Market Sugar.*/Ronnie Baldonado photoThe Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) announced Thursday, Oct. 8, that the Sugar Board has approved Sugar Order No. 1 classifying 100 percent of the country’s sugar production for Crop Year 2026-2027 as “B" or Domestic Market Sugar.SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona in an advisory informed all sugar industry stakeholders that the allocation was in accordance with a consensus reached during a stakeholders consultative meeting in Makati City on October 2.Accordingly, all sugar mills, planters, traders, and other concerned parties are hereby advised and directed to ensure that all l...

Oct82026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

P720,800 suspected shabu seized in Sibulan buy-bust

Negros Oriental, Police, Top Stories

Police arrested a 33-year-old man and seized about 106 grams of suspected shabu worth P720,800 in a buy-bust operation in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, early Wednesday morning, Oct. 7.The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region identified the suspect only as alias “Opao,” a married resident of Brgy. Bagacay, Dumaguete City, and classified him as a high-value individual. The operation was conducted at about 1:04 a.m. in Purok 7, Brgy. Maslog, by personnel of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office’s Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, with support from the Provincial Intelligence Unit, Negros Oriental Maritime Police Station, Regional Intelligence Unit-NIR and Sibulan Municipal Police Station.Police said the operation stemmed from information provided by a confidential i...

Oct72026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

No. 1 regional most wanted person arrested in Negros Oriental

Negros Oriental, Police, Top Stories

Police arrested the No. 1 Regional Most Wanted Person for a murder case with no bail recommended, in Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental, on Monday, Oct. 6.The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region identified the accused only as alias “Jov,” 37, married, and a resident of Sitio Avocado, Brgy. Talalak, Santa Catalina.Police also tagged the accused as a non-PSR-listed member of a communist terrorist group and linked him to the RMPC SEF and KRNCBS-D, based on police records.The arrest was carried out by joint personnel of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, PNP Special Action Force, Regional Intelligence Unit-Negros Island Region and Santa Catalina Municipal Police Station.Police said the operation was based on warrants of arrest for murder under Article 248 of the...

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...

Oct62026 by Judy F. PartlowNo Comments

Metro Dumaguete Water assures ample water supply amid El Niño threat

Business, Community, Top Stories

Engr. Robert Cabiles, Chief Operating Officer of Metro Dumaguete Water, speaking on Monday during the firm’s celebration of 1 Million Safe Man Hours.*/JFP photoMetro Dumaguete Water (MDW) has assured consumers of sufficient water supply despite the threat of a strong El Niño phenomenon this year.Engr. Robert Cabiles, MDW chief operating officer, said Monday that the water utility continues to monitor its resources and has so far not recorded critical declines in water levels.“Actually, up until now, we are monitoring our water resources and so far, it has not dropped to a critical level,” Cabiles said in an interview.“Right now, there is no need to panic. But we cannot be complacent about this and we need to prepare for the upcoming El Niño,” he added.Cabiles said the c...

Oct42026 by Nanette GuadalquiverNo Comments

DOE proposes immediate interventions to address Visayas power woes

Business, Community, Top Stories

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin has proposed immediate interventions for the recurring power outages in the Visayas grid as she stressed the need for a whole of government approach to address major power supply issues.Garin discussed the Visayas power situation and presented course of actions during the House of Representatives joint public hearing at L'Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City on Saturday.“The earliest (long-term) solutions for the whole Visayas is at 2028,” she said.As an immediate measure, Garin proposed tapping battery energy storage to help cushion supply disruptions while the Department of Energy (DOE) pursues long-term solutions.She added that the agency is also working to bring in power barges to augment electricity supply in the region.The DOE chief thank...

Oct42026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

SSS rolls out LoanLite microloan of up to P20,000

Business, Community, Top Stories

The Social Security System has launched a new digital microloan facility allowing qualified members to borrow from P1,000 to P20,000 for short-term financial needs.In a press release, SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Joseph de Claro said the SSS Micro Loan Program, also called SSS LoanLite, is available to employed, self-employed, voluntary and overseas Filipino worker members who meet the eligibility requirements.Members must have at least 12 posted monthly contributions to qualify.The loanable amount depends on the average of the member’s 12 latest Monthly Salary Credits, or MSCs.De Claro said repayment terms are available for 15, 30, 60 or 90 days, with an interest rate of 8 percent per year, equivalent to about 0.67 percent per month.Members with at ...