By CESAR JOLITO III Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya is proposing a P4.75-billion annual budget for Bacolod City in 2026 — about P350 million higher than this year’s P4.4-billion allocation. Gasataya said he will submit the proposed 2026 executive budget to the city council this week for deliberation and approval. He explained that the modest …
Monthly Archives: October 2025
HPG intensifies ops vs. ‘smugglers’ in NegOr
The Highway Patrol Group (HPG) in Negros Oriental is ramping up its anti-smuggling efforts in the province following the seizure of “smuggled” cigarettes in Basay town over the weekend. Police Executive Master Sergeant Aurelio Bodo, chief of the Special Operations Team for Negros Oriental at the Regional Highway Patrol Unit – Negros Island Region, said …
NegOr biz group backs decarbonization efforts for carbon credit law
The Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) is supporting decarbonization efforts across the country as it advocates for a Philippine carbon credit law. In an interview yesterday, NOCCI president Edward Du said they are aware of activities and practices that reduce the carbon footprint and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, whether by individuals or …
UP’s Alarcon escapes FEU
By ADRIAN STEWART CO Negrense Harold Alarcon rose to the occasion as the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons outlasted the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, 69-66, to clinch its fourth consecutive victory in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion on Sunday, October 12. The Negros Occidental’s Silay City native Alarcon delivered …
Casinillo, Orgo lead Perps past Arellano in NCAA
By ADRIAN STEWART CO The University of Perpetual Help Altas continued their strong start in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament after outlasting the Arellano University Chiefs, 72-67, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City over the weekend. Negrenses Shawn Orgo and LA Casinillo came up big for the Altas, providing …
Phoenix holds on, hands San Miguel its 2nd straight PBA loss
The Phoenix Fuel Masters weathered a late fightback from the San Miguel Beermen and held on for a 109-103 win in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup on Sunday night, October 12, at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo. The Fuel Masters nearly squandered a double-digit lead in the final quarter but proved to be …
Terrafirma stuns NLEX for win No. 1 in PH Cup
The Terrafirma Dyip pulled off an impressive 97-91 win over the NLEX Road Warriors for their first win of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup on Sunday, October 12, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. The result ended an 11-game losing streak for the Dyip, and handed new head coach Ronald Tubid a landmark victory. …
Blame game:Unifed hits Confed; defends SRA amid sugar price drop
By CESAR JOLITO III The United Sugar Producers Federation (Unifed) has come to the defense of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), rejecting criticisms from the Confederation of Sugar Producers Association, Inc. (Confed) that blamed the agency for the recent drop in sugar and molasses prices at the start of the milling season. “If there is someone …
Tourism mgt student bags Miss MassKara crown
By CESAR JOLITO III A 19-year-old tourism management student from the University of St. La Salle (USLS) in Bacolod City was crowned as this year’s Miss Bacolod MassKara, besting 14 other candidates during the coronation night held at the USLS Coliseum yesterday. Sophia Kaye Zaragoza captivated the judges and audience with her charm, poise and …
‘Don’t take risks on GMOs,’ int’l experts warn
Three international experts in organic agriculture have individually appealed to the Negros Occidental provincial government “not to take risks” in cultivating genetically modified organisms (GMOs), as it threatens food security system, biodiversity, farmers’ seed sovereignty, and the province’s identity as the “Organic Capital of the Philippines.” The plea came amid the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s deliberations on …