Holy Week in Negros Island Region generally peaceful
Published Apr 5, 2026 09:50 pm
THE Holy Week ended without a hitch in Negros Occidental. (PRO-NIR)
BACOLOD CITY – The Holy Week in Negros Island Region from March 29 to April 5 was generally peaceful.
The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) said 36 incidents were monitored and recorded and majority of these were non-index and manageable.
All incidents were promptly addressed through swift police response and effective coordination, preventing escalation and maintaining peace and order.
The PRO-NIR considered the Lenten season security operations a success due to proactive policing, strategic deployment, and the cooperation of the people in maintaining peace and order.
It conducted Red Teaming operations in all police units in the region to validate, test, and strengthen the implementation of security and public safety measures in accordance with the prescribed operational guidelines for the Holy Week.
“It ensures that every deployment is not just present, but purposeful, precise, and prepared. These operations served as our reality check. We do not wait for incidents to expose gaps,” said Police Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, PRO-NIR director.
Police visibility was enhanced in beach areas, resorts, and other tourist destinations to ensure effective crowd and traffic management.
Close coordination with local government units of Negros Occidental, including this highly-urbanized city, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, and partner agencies further contributed to the smooth and orderly conduct of both religious and recreational activities, the PRO-NIR said.
Kanlaon
BACOLOD CITY – The Protected Area Management Office (PAMO) of Mount Kanlaon Natural Park stepped up safety and conservation efforts during the observance of Holy Week in the vicinity of the Kanlaon Volcano.
As part of its Oplan Semana Santa 2026, MKNP personnel carried out intensified patrols and monitoring, especially in restricted zones, to prevent illegal trekking and other violations.
These operations covered local government units (LGUs) within the park’s jurisdiction, including the cities of Bago and La Carlota, the towns of La Castellana and Murcia in Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
PAMO also provided visitor assistance through information and education campaigns (IEC), raising awareness about park policies and ensuring strict compliance at entry points and tourism sites across the protected area.
PAMO thanked partner LGUs, agencies, and stakeholders for their continued support.
It also acknowledged the efforts of the Kanlaon Green Brigade (KGB) and Bantay Lasang volunteers whose dedication remains vital in protecting and conserving the natural resources of Mount Kanlaon Natural Park.
The volcano remains under Alert Level 2 following a series of ash emission events with its most recent explosive eruption recorded on March 15.
Ash emission events were recorded on Easter Sunday at 1:10 p.m., 3:10 p.m., and 5:09 p.m.
These events generated grayish plumes 350 to 1,200 meters above the summit crater, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
Drowning
BACOLOD CITY – Two children drowned in Negros Occidental on April 4 and 5.
A five-year-old girl drowned in Barangay Bunga, Don Salvador Benedicto on Black Saturday.
Initial investigation showed that the victim went missing while her family and friends were swimming on a river. They searched for her until her body was recovered underwater.
The victim was declared dead at Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital here.
A seven-year-old boy from Victorias City, Negros Occidental drowned on a river in Barangay Nanca, E.B. Magalona while swimming with his family on Easter Sunday.
The victim was brought to a hospital where he was declared dead.