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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 …

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 …

By CESAR JOLITO III With the national government’s decision to scrap funding for flood control projects in the 2026 national budget, Bacolod City Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is now exploring alternative funding sources to sustain the maintenance of existing drainage systems and prevent further flooding in the city. Benitez’s spokesperson, Councilor Caesar Distrito, …

By CESAR JOLITO III Nineteen individuals, including members of the Badjao community, persons with disabilities, and minors, were rescued during a coordinated operation against street begging and vagrancy in Bacolod City on Saturday, October 11. Of the 19 rescued individuals, nine were Badjaos — including two children — one was a person believed to have a …

By CESAR JOLITO III Several areas across the Negros Island Region (NIR) experienced mild tremors following a 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Manay town in Davao Oriental at 9:43 a.m. yesterday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-NIR. OCD-NIR Director Donato Sermeno III confirmed that reports of light shaking …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has ruled out any plans to import sugar until at least mid-2026, emphasizing that the local supply and production remain stable despite concerns raised by sugar planters’ groups. SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona made the assurance in response to the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP), which earlier …

By CESAR JOLITO III At least 12 barangays in Bacolod City were hit by flooding on Thursday night, October 9, following heavy rains brought by a tropical storm and a low-pressure area. The flooding displaced at least 150 residents and prompted city officials to activate emergency response operations. According to the City Disaster Risk Reduction …

By CESAR JOLITO III Catholic leaders and civic groups across Negros Occidental are set to gather in Bacolod City on Saturday, October 11, for a massive prayer rally that doubles as a protest against what they describe as widespread corruption in government infrastructure projects. Dubbed the “Grand Holy Rosary Rally Against Corruption,” the province-wide event will be …

By CESAR JOLITO III Law enforcement agencies in Negros Occidental have stepped up coordination efforts to address a series of killings in the province’s upland areas, which authorities believe are linked to rebel activities. The Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOCPPO) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) convened to craft a unified strategy …

By CESAR JOLITO III Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya has ordered the free administration of rabies and tetanus vaccines for qualified residents belonging to priority sectors, aiming to address the growing number of animal bite cases recorded in the city. Gasataya, in the issuance of Executive Order (EO) No. 59 on Wednesday, October 8, said …