By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Island Region (NIR) had significantly fewer fireworks-related injuries (FWRIs) as it welcomed 2026, the Department of Health (DOH) said. DOH-NIR data showed 105 FWRIs were documented from December 21, 2025 to January 2, 2026 — a 52.6 percent decrease from last year’s 131 cases. Of the number, Negros Occidental logged …
Monthly Archives: January 2026
Trending slang words we should know
By Herman M. Lagon Let us begin with a confession: Once, while trying to decode what my students meant when they said something was “mid,” I found myself scrolling through Facebook with a furrowed brow and a browser history full of Urban Dictionary tabs. Somewhere between “cap,” “no cap” and “cringe,” I realized I was …
Lessons we can learn from the Epiphany
By Fr. Roy Cimagala Definitely, the main lesson we can learn from the Solemnity of the Epiphany when we commemorate the visit of the Three Magi to the newborn Jesus is that Jesus is meant to be the redeemer, not only to the Jews, regarded as the chosen people of God, but also to the …
Bacolod taps new garbage collector to clear weeklong waste backlog
By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod City government has moved to address a weeklong garbage backlog by deploying a new private waste management consortium, with city officials confident the situation will ease within days. Mayor Greg Gasataya formally signed a one-year contract on Thursday, January 1, with a consortium led by International Solid Waste Integrated …
New Year revelry ‘peaceful’: PRO-NIR
By CESAR JOLITO III The Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) reported a generally peaceful and orderly New Year celebration across the region, citing the effective implementation of Ligtas Paskuhan. According to PRO-NIR, heightened police visibility and strategic deployment played a key role in maintaining public safety during the holiday season. More …
NegOr moves swiftly to clear landslide, address flooding
By CESAR JOLITO III The Negros Oriental provincial government mobilized its resources and coordinated closely with local government units to address the impact of heavy rains brought by a series of thunderstorms that hit parts of the province on Wednesday, December 31. Under the leadership of Governor Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria, provincial authorities, through the Local …
Fire mars New Year’s Day in NegOr town; 1 hurt
A seven-year-old girl was injured after a fire of unknown origin destroyed two houses and several motor vehicles in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, on Thursday, New Year’s Day. Captain Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO), said the fire was reported around 3:55 a.m. at a compound in Barangay Cangmating. Polinar said …
NegOr celebrates holidays without incident; P150-K firecrackers seized
The peace and order situation in Negros Oriental during the holidays remained generally peaceful, with only minor incidents that did not disrupt celebrations or pose serious public threats, an official said Thursday, January 1. Colonel Criscente Tiguelo, provincial police director, said during a media conference at the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO) that aside …
Bloody incidents mar New Year
By CESAR JOLITO III A series of stabbing, hacking and shooting incidents were recorded in several parts of Negros Occidental from Wednesday, December 31, 2025 to the early hours of Thursday, January 1, 2026, leaving at least three people dead and several others injured. In Bago City, a 53-year-old man was stabbed inside his own …
Buglas gears up for qualifiers
By ADRIAN STEWART CO The Canberra Buglas Region Girls Under-17 team will headline the Challenge Cup – Mundial Intercontinental Soccer Qualifiers (Visayas Leg) scheduled for the first quarter of 2026, as part of their preparations for upcoming international competitions in San Diego, California. Following a gold medal performance on December 27, 2025, at the Bago …