Watchmen Daily Journal
Victorias access to Bacolod landfill ‘allowed’
The Bacolod City Legal Office (CLO) said Victorias City government’s request to temporarily dispose of its residual waste at the city’s sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa is allowed “under the law” as the initiative has been approved by the Bacolod...
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ASF kills over 2,000 hogs in 13 NegOcc LGUs
African swine fever (ASF) has affected 13 local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental, resulting in the deaths of 2,130 hogs as of Tuesday, June 30, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) said. ASF has affected a total of 55,961 hogs in 13...
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Bacolod confirms 4 positive ASF cases
Bacolod City logged four positive cases of African swine fever (ASF), City Veterinary Office (CVO) head Dr. Maria Agueda dela Torre confirmed yesterday. The hog samples were collected on Monday, June 29, from backyard hog raisers in Barangays Alijis...
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Student assault, stabbing ‘alarming’: DepEd-Bacolod
“Physical assault and stabbing incidents among students in various public schools in Bacolod City can be considered alarming.” This was stressed by Lila Vaflor Aro, spokesperson of the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Bacolod after...
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Kabankalan to declare state of calamity due to RSSI
Kabankalan City is set to be placed under a state of calamity as the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation continues to spread across sugarcane plantations, with the Negros Island Region (NIR) now recording the highest number of affected...
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Negros Power recognized by ERC for leadership in clean energy transition
BACOLOD CITY — Negros Power has earned national recognition from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for its outstanding contribution to advancing renewable energy and promoting consumer participation in the country’s clean energy...
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BACOLOD BRACES FOR ASF
Mayor Greg Gasataya, who recently convened the city’s Task Force on ASF, said the city will impose a ban on imported pork and pork byproducts to protect hog raisers, vendors, transporters, and consumers who are part of the billion-peso swine industry.
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CURB ASF SPREAD
The swine deaths from May 20 and June 22 caused losses accounting for 4.06 percent of the province’s 29,880 hog population, according to data released by the Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II. Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier confirmed...
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Lacson, PRO-NIR call for keeping schools safe
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and the Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) have called for heightened vigilance inside schools following a recent stabbing incident involving students in San Carlos City. In a...
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ASF HITS NEGOCC TOWN
Lacson affirmed yesterday that laboratory test results have verified the presence of ASF in the town.
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Blue crab ban seen to worsen small fishers’ plight, poverty
Small fishers and civil society organizations from Negros Occidental, Iloilo and Guimaras have raised concerns over the recent United States ban on blue swimming crabs from the Philippines, warning that the measure could have severe economic...
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Diaz defends appointment, pushes hospital mgt reforms
Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II has defended his appointment as officer-incharge of the Provincial Health Office’s Hospital Operations Services, emphasizing that the position focuses on hospital management and...
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‘Bacolod, NegOcc should work together’
Negros Occidental 3rd District Representative Javier Miguel Benitez urged the Bacolod City government and the provincial government to work together rather than compete. Speaking as the guest speaker during Bacolod’s 88th Charter Day celebration on...
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FUNGUS ‘ARMY’ VS. SUGAR PEST
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has ordered the mass production of a naturally occurring fungus to combat the destructive redstriped soft scale insect (RSSI) as the infestation spreads to 4,847.63 hectares of sugarcane farms across the Visayas,...
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Kanlaon’s constant degassing lowers blast chance: Phivolcs
The continuous degassing at Kanlaon Volcano is a more favorable scenario than a closed volcanic unrest, where pressure can build up and potentially trigger a more explosive eruption. The current activity suggests the volcano’s system remains open,...
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Raisers look into pattern on rising hog deaths
Hog raisers in Negros Occidental are being urged to tighten biosecurity measures following reports of increasing hog deaths across several local government units in the southern part of the province. The Alliance of Hog Raisers Association of Negros...
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SUGARCANE PEST HOTSPOT
Negros Occidental remains the hardesthit province amid the infestation of red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) in at least 1,949.45 hectares of sugarcane fields, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said, as the pest continues to spread across...
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STRONG ENFORCEMENT OF ANTI-SMOKING ORDINANCE URGED
The Bacolod City council urged authorities to reinvigorate and intensify the enforcement of the city’s Comprehensive AntiSmoking Ordinance through a coordinated multi-agency effort. The Sangguniang Panlungsod urged Mayor Greg Gasataya to direct and...
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Lacson: Freedom carries responsibility
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson underscored the importance of history, freedom and nation-building during the 128th Philippine Independence Day rites at the Provincial Capitol yesterday, stressing that freedom carries continuing...
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SECURE PERMITS, BACOLOD TELLS ASENSO MARKET VENDORS
The Bacolod City government will still require vendors at the Asenso Market in Barangay Alijis to secure special permits despite the issuance of a temporary permit as requested by village captain Deogracias de la Vega. “The city council approved the...
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Prank call, fake food orders prompt BFP warning
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Bacolod City has condemned the spread of false emergency calls after firefighters were dispatched to a supposed residential fire that turned out to be a hoax, while the same address was also allegedly used for...
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Intensified police visibility urged
The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) is urged to intensify police visibility and crime prevention measures following the recent holdup incident involving a female doctor in Barangay 19. Councilor Em Ang, chairperson of the city council committee on...
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1,612 NIR cops to secure class opening
The Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) has deployed 1,612 police personnel across the region as part of its SAFE Balik Eskwela 2026 initiative to ensure a peaceful, orderly and secure opening of classes today, June 8. The...
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Cadiz mayor tells senators: Set aside political rift
Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante has expressed concern over the ongoing crisis in the Senate, urging lawmakers to put aside political disputes and return their focus to serving the Filipino people. Speaking in his personal capacity,
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MassKara Coliseum eyed for completion
Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya confirmed that the construction of the Bacolod MassKara Coliseum is now 76 percent complete. Gasataya, who inspected the coliseum yesterday, said the contractor has been given until September of this year to complete...
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CLOUDSEEDING TO EASE CROP DAMAGE SHELVED
DA-NIR Regional Director Jose Albert Barrogo said the agency has placed the proposed artificial rainmaking activities on hold as weather conditions have improved with the arrival of the rainy season. “With the rainy season already underway,...
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Who gets the P100-K reward for robbery suspects’ info?
The Bacolod City government is now coordinating with the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) for the release of the P100,000 reward to informants in helping the arrest of the suspects who allegedly robbed a female doctor at her apartment in Bacolod...
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ROAD CLOSURE FOR SEABA QUALIFIERS JUNE 2 TO 6
The Bacolod Traffic and Transport Management Department (BTTMD) will implement a temporary road closure along Hilado Street (L.N. Agustin Drive to Lopez Jaena Street) starting today until Saturday, June 6, for the city’s hosting of the 2026 FIBA U18...
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ARMED STRUGGLE REMAINS ACTIVE
The National Democratic Front (NDF) - Negros has disputed recent claims by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) that the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros has already...
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Environmental advocates reject permits for bulk water project
Environmental groups and disaster risk reduction specialists are urging local government units in northern Negros Occidental to reject approvals for the proposed P1.2-billion Negros Occidental bulk water supply project, citing what they described as...
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WATER RESERVES CAN’T KEEP PACE
The Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) is set to conduct cloudseeding operations in Negros Occidental and other parts of Western Visayas in the first week of July, as the government moves to mitigate the effects of extreme heat and moisture...
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P250-M bridge to link 2 Moises Padilla brgys
A proposed P250-million bridge project aimed at restoring a critical transport link between Barangays Montilla and Macagahay in Negros Occidental’s Moises Padilla town has moved into a key evaluation stage following a site inspection conducted by the...
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Toboso mayor slams Noneco over board poll Jaojoco open to power coop’s structural reforms
Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco criticized the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco) for what he described as a lack of transparency in the long-delayed election of its board of directors, saying the cooperative’s governance issues are now...
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NegOcc execs back P12-B farm-to-market road program
Local chief executives in Negros Occidental have expressed strong support for the proposed P12-billion farm-tomarket road program endorsed by the Provincial Development Council (PDC), describing it as a major step toward modernizing agriculture and...
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CERNET not cleared amid terror financing case dismissal: army
The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID) has backed the position of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict’s (NTF-ELCAC) legal cooperation cluster on the dismissal of the terrorism financing case filed against Community
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Gasataya condemns on-air rape joke
Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya has strongly condemned statements aired in a radio broadcast that allegedly treated sexual assault and violence against women as a subject of humor, calling the incident a “failure of empathy” and a betrayal of public...
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‘On-air rape joke a serious breach of media ethics’
A local radio broadcaster’s remarks allegedly trivializing rape and violence against women went viral and sparked public backlash, drawing strong condemnation from women’s groups, press organizations, lawmakers, and a national government task...
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EXTREME WEATHER, FEWER SCHOOL DAYS
Public schools in the Negros Island Region (NIR) lost a total of 19 school days due to class suspensions linked to climate-related events in a three-month period last year, data from the Department of Education during the Second Congressional...
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INSURGENCY TEARS FAMILIES APART
Many young people eventually become estranged from their families once they start as activists or members of advocacy groups to become armed operatives, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said, raising concern...
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NTF-ELCAC alarmed over youth ‘terror grooming’
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) renewed its warning against alleged communist rebel recruitment among the youth following the death of former student leader Vince Francis Dingding during an armed encounter in...
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5 ‘REBELS’ KILLED IN CLASH ANEW
A timely tip from residents led to a series of armed encounters that resulted in the neutralization of five alleged remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA) South West Front at Barangay Abaca in Negros Occidental’s Cauayan town on Saturday, May...
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‘STAGED’ GUNFIRE TO ADVANCE INTERESTS?
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson condemned the chaotic incident and reported gunfire inside the Senate during the tense standoff involving Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, describing the situation as “embarrassing and shameful” for the...
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Senator calls for full probe into Senate shooting scare
A senator called for a full and independent investigation into the shooting incident that occurred at the Senate on Wednesday night, May 13, saying the violence stemmed from Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s refusal to face legal proceedings tied to a...
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LOWER OUTPUT, HIGHER PRICES
The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said sugar production for the next crop year is expected to decline by seven to nine percent but expressed hope that mill gate prices will improve due to the current oversupply of raw sugar.
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Cop dies, 2 others hurt in buy-bust
A 38-year-old police officer was killed while two others were injured during a buy-bust operation against an alleged street-level drug personality at Barangay Talaptap in Negros Occidental’s La Castellana town late Monday night, May 11. Police Master...
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Lacson backs airport expansion, convention center push in Silay
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has expressed support for major infrastructure projects being proposed in Silay City, saying these developments could strengthen tourism and investment in Negros Occidental. Among the projects being...
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Benitez withdraws call for Toboso clash inquiry
Negros Occidental 3rd District Representative Javi Benitez said he will no longer push for a congressional inquiry into the April 19 encounter in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town that left 19 people dead, saying ongoing investigations by proper...
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‘Negros 19’ autopsy findings challenge military claims
Autopsy findings on the 19 individuals killed in a military operation in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town, including two Filipino-Americans, have raised questions over the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) claim that the incident was a legitimate...
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Elderly woman dies in fire after letting husband save himself
A 79-year-old woman died after reportedly letting her husband escape a residential fire that razed several homes at Purok Maanyag 2 in Bacolod City’s Barangay Alijis on Tuesday night, May 6. Rosa Magbanua allowed her husband, 62-year-old Jose...
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NegOcc sustainable energy framework drives renewable push
Bringing reliable, affordable and sustainable energy to small communities is at the heart of Negros Occidental’s energy transition, as the province advances its energy framework for 2030 alongside the Renewable Energy Week Expo 2026 set for May 7 to...
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‘NO CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP’
The United Sugar Producers Federation (Unifed) and the Luzon Federation of Sugarcane Growers Association (LuzonFed) expressed full confidence in the board led by Agriculture Secretary Francisco TiuLaurel, Jr. and SRA Administrator Pablo Luis...
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Army, ‘NPA’ clash anew in Cauayan
Government troops clashed with suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) at Barangay Masaling in Negros Occidental’s Cauayan town early yesterday morning, the Philippine Army said. Lt. Colonel Dennis Martinez, commanding officer of the 47th...
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32 groups call for justice in Toboso clash deaths
A coalition composed of 32 civil society and church organizations has called for justice, transparency and lasting peace following the deaths of 19 individuals in a violent encounter in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town on April 19, as the national...
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WORKERS’ BURDEN: MAKING ENDS MEET
A local workers’ group marked Labor Day with a sharp critique of government leadership, saying the annual celebration has lost its meaning for ordinary workers amid rising prices, stagnant wages and alleged corruption.
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Visayan power grid under ‘low reserves’: ACCESS
The Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services (ACCESS) has raised alarm over what it describes as a “converging storm” threatening power stability in the Visayas, citing thin supply reserves and escalating global oil risks as...
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19 DEATHS A ‘MASSACRE’
A wildfire continues to spread within Kanlaon Volcano’s permanent danger zone (PDZ), affecting more than 100 hectares of forestland, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said. The grass fire, which started around 10:00 a.m. on...
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9 KILLED IN CLASH WERE CIVILIANS, NPA INSISTS
The New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Island has asserted that not all those killed in the encounter at Barangay Salamanca in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town on April 19 were armed combatants, claiming that nine civilians were among the fatalities. In...
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ARMY OPEN TO CHR PROBE INTO CLASH
The Philippine Army has expressed readiness to cooperate with an investigation by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) into the April 19 military operation in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town that left 19 people dead. Army spokesperson Colonel Louie...
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30 nabbed in ‘e-sabong’ raid
Authorities arrested 30 individuals and dismantled a suspected illegal online cockfighting or “e-sabong” operation during a joint law enforcement raid at Barangay Concepcion in Negros Occidental’s Talisay City. The operation, led by the Criminal...
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Fil-Am among killed in Toboso clash
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has expressed condolences following the reported death of an American citizen of Filipino descent during an armed encounter in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town on Sunday, April...
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INSURGENTS OR CIVILIANS?
The rest [of the victims] were civilians documenting a peasant activity, standing alongside farmers who are consistently pushed to the margins by land-grabbing and systemic neglect. Why are they at the encounter site, armed and shooting at...
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NO TAX RAPS EXPECTED?
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has confirmed it cannot file tax violation charges against suspects arrested in recent raids on warehouses where alleged smuggled cigarettes were discovered in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental’s Bago City due to...
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RETURN TO FOLD OF LAW
The Diocese of San Carlos has issued a pastoral statement expressing deep sorrow and renewed calls for peace following a recent armed encounter in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town between government security forces and suspected members of the New...
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TROOPS KILL NPA HITMAN
A suspected hitman of the New People’s Army (NPA) identified as Roger Fabillar, also known as “Jhong” and “Arnel Tapang,” was among 19 alleged rebels killed in a series of armed encounters with government troops at Barangay Salamanca in Negros...
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P12.8-B LOSSES FLAGGED
The resolution directs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into concerns raised by industry stakeholders over excessive sugar imports and possible mismanagement within the Sugar...
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Bacolod energy efficiency practices get DOE nod
The Bacolod City government has been rated highly compliant by the Department of Energy (DOE) with the Government Energy Management Program (GEMP). The observation was based on the spot check conducted by the team from the DOE - Visayas led by...
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Transport group dismayed over low turnout in strike
Transport group Bacolod Alliance for Commuters, Operators and Drivers (BACOD) - Manibela expressed disappointment over the lack of support from various sectors during a protest rally and transport strike in Bacolod City yesterday. In an interview,...
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RELEASE SUGAR ORDER MINUTES
In a statement, the council supported the call of the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines - Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (Nacusip-TUCP) for the release of the minutes of Sugar Board meetings, especially those...
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BEYOND CONTROL GROUP SEES POWER RATE HIKE ‘UNAVOIDABLE’
In an advisory, ACCESS said the ongoing geopolitical tensions are driving up fuel costs, which in turn push electricity prices higher. ACCESS President Wennie Sancho warned that consumers should prepare for the impact, noting that government efforts...
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FESTIVAL OF FESTIVALS
Nearly 900 security personnel from the Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region will ensure peace and order during the 30th Panaad sa Negros Festival, which will kick off today, April 13, 2026.
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NO TAX BURDEN
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said the reassessment of property values is mandated under Republic Act No. 12001, which seeks to modernize and standardize real property valuation nationwide. Diaz explained that provincial, city and...
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LABOR GROUP WARNS OF POWER RATE HIKE AMID OIL PRICE SURGE
Consumers may soon face higher electricity bills as global oil prices continue to climb due to tensions in the Middle East, a consumer advocacy group said. In a press statement, the Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services...
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1,500 NIR police to secure Araw ng Kagitingan
The Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) will deploy nearly 1,500 personnel across the region to ensure a safe and orderly observance of Araw ng Kagitingan today. The large-scale security operation will cover key areas of...
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Fuel subsidy payout for tricycle drivers begins
The distribution of fuel subsidies and cash assistance for qualified tricycle drivers in Bacolod City will start today until Friday, April 10, led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in coordination with the city government. The...
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