Business

Provincial economic consultant Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez led a pre-power summit Monday afternoon, July 26, to explore ways to bring down the cost of power in Negros Occidental. “The goal is to reduce power cost to benefit consumers, and allow stable and competitive rates and power supply to entice the technology industry to come here and invest,” he said. The meeting was held to assess the power supply in Negros and if its use is being maximized, he said. It seems there is enough power generated on Negros Island that is not being used, Benitez said, noting that Iloilo has already brought down its power costs. Negros produces almost 600 megawatts and consumption at peak load is only 350 megawatts, he said. If Negros rates are competitive with the international mar...

Richard Malihan photo Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson urged Negrenses to stay vigilant in the campaign against African swine fever (ASF). At rites held at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City, Monday, July 26, the governor led the second anniversary of the establishment of the Provincial ASF Task Force, which he chairs. The provincial government also honored individuals and groups that helped the province’s campaign against the dreaded disease. The governor said that Negros Occidental is one of the few provinces that remains ASF-free, adding that it has spread to several regions - 46 provinces, and 493 cities and municipalities - with new cases reported despite government interventions to stop the spread. “Our prompt and timely action in enacting the ASF Pr...

The photo was taken during the first meeting of the African Swine Fever (ASF) Task Force after its creation on July 26, 2019, with Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson as chairman and Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena as co-chairman.*Capitol file photo The provincial government of Negros Occidental through the Provincial Veterinary Office will recognize individuals and organizations who played a vital role in keeping the province free from African Swine Fever (ASF) at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on Monday, July 26. They will receive Plaques of Commendation in commemoration of the two-year accomplishment of the Provincial ASF Task Force since its creation on July 26, 2019. “As of today, Negros Occidental has maintained its ASF-Free status despite the continuous spread of t...

The National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP) commended Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III Wednesday, July 14, for directing the Bureau of Customs to step up the drive against sugar smuggling. Dominguez issued the order recently amidst reports from the Bureau of Internal Revenue that some traders in Cebu are importing sugar at a much higher volume than what is allowed under the Sugar Regulatory Administration’s Sugar Order No. 3, titled ““A” Sugar Export Replenishment Program”. Sugar Order No. 3 allows traders who exported sugar to the US under the US Sugar Quota Program to import an equivalent volume of sugar as replenishment to what they actually exported. “When SRA instituted the ‘A’ sugar export replenishment program early last month, NFSP already warned that s...