Business

Oct82026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Sugar federations welcome Coca-Cola’s commitment to use Negros sugar

Ronnie baldonado file photoThe Sugar Council said it welcomes the assurance by Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines (CCEAP) to use Negros produced sugar but is calling for an expansion of its commitment.“We welcome Coca-Cola’s commitment to use 100 percent locally produced premium refined sugarin Negros, but we appeal to CCEAP to expand that commitment to Filipino sugar sourcedthroughout the country,” the group said in a statement Wednesday, Oct. 7The Council, composed of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations (CONFED),the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP), and the Panay Federation of SugarcaneFarmers (PANAYFED), was reacting to a CCEAP press statement on October 5.“In fact, this explicitly reinforces the core argument we raised in our Septemb...

Oct72026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

NPA claims responsibility for Escalante attack that killed CAFGU member, wounded 2 soldiers

Business, Police, Top Stories

The New People's Army has claimed responsibility for the Sept. 29 attack on government troops in Escalante City, Negros Occidental, that left one Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) member dead and two soldiers wounded.In a statement on Oct. 7, Ka Cecil Estrella, spokesperson of the Roselyn Jean Pelle Command-NPA Northern Negros Guerrilla Front, said its members carried out what it described as a harassment operation against personnel of the Army's 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) and CAFGU in Sitio Bautista, Brgy. Malasibog, at around 3 p.m.The NPA claimed its fighters opened fire on government troops conducting a patrol in the area, resulting in one fatality and two injuries on the government side.Estrella said the exchange of gunfire lasted about three minutes and ...

Oct62026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

NONECO, NOCECO raise September power rates while Negros Power posts slight cut

Business, Community, Top Stories

The varying movements came as distribution utilities in the Visayas dealt with higher Wholesale Electricity Spot Market costs following tight power supply conditions, generating plant outages and transmission constraints in August.*/ Ronnie Baldonado photoElectricity consumers in northern and southern Negros Occidental are paying higher residential rates for September, while customers of Negros Power in Bacolod and parts of central Negros saw a slight decrease, based on advisories issued by the province’s three distribution utilities.The Northern Negros Electric Cooperative recorded the highest September residential rate at P17.1454 per kilowatt-hour, up by P1.4054/kWh from P15.7400 in August.The Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative increased its residential rate to P16.0080/...

Oct62026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Negros Island inflation quickens to 6.9 percent in September, still below national rate

Business, Top Stories

For consumers, a 6.9 percent inflation rate does not mean that all goods and services became exactly 6.9 percent more expensive in one month.*/Ronnie Baldonado photoInflation in the Negros Island Region accelerated to 6.9 percent in September 2026 from 5.8 percent in August, meaning consumer prices in the region were, on average, 6.9 percent higher than they were in September last year.Despite the increase, NIR’s inflation remained below the 7.2 percent national rate and was the lowest among the four Visayas regions, based on data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority on Tuesday, Oct. 6.Western Visayas posted the highest inflation among the Visayas regions at 9.2 percent, followed by Central Visayas at 8.3 percent and Eastern Visayas at 8.2 percent.The national in...

Oct62026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

GCash parent opens IPO at P660 minimum for interested Negros investors

Business, Community, Top Stories

Residents of Bacolod City and Negros Occidental interested in owning shares in the company behind GCash can apply for a minimum of 100 shares worth P660 through the app starting Tuesday, Oct. 6.Mynt Inc., the parent company of the group behind GCash, has set its initial public offering (IPO) price at P6.60 per share. The offer runs until Oct. 12, the company said.An IPO allows the public to buy shares in a company before these begin trading on the stock exchange. Buying shares gives an investor a small ownership stake in the business.The Mynt offering is accessible through GStocks PH within GCash, powered by AB Capital Securities Inc.For orders placed on Oct. 6 and 7, the first 100 shares will be allocated in real time while shares last, according to the company.&n...

Oct62026 by Judy F. PartlowNo Comments

Metro Dumaguete Water assures ample water supply amid El Niño threat

Business, Community, Top Stories

Engr. Robert Cabiles, Chief Operating Officer of Metro Dumaguete Water, speaking on Monday during the firm’s celebration of 1 Million Safe Man Hours.*/JFP photoMetro Dumaguete Water (MDW) has assured consumers of sufficient water supply despite the threat of a strong El Niño phenomenon this year.Engr. Robert Cabiles, MDW chief operating officer, said Monday that the water utility continues to monitor its resources and has so far not recorded critical declines in water levels.“Actually, up until now, we are monitoring our water resources and so far, it has not dropped to a critical level,” Cabiles said in an interview.“Right now, there is no need to panic. But we cannot be complacent about this and we need to prepare for the upcoming El Niño,” he added.Cabiles said the c...

Oct52026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

NFSP holds 96th annual general assembly

Business, Community, Top Stories

Officers of about 30 planters associations and sugar farmers cooperatives affiliated with the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP) gathered at the Federation’s Main Office in Bacolod City on September 25 for the 96th Annual General Assembly and Board of Directors Meeting of the federation.“Since the founding of our federation in 1930, NFSP has always been vocal in defending the interests and promoting the welfare of our planter-members. We take pride in the long history of our Federation’s service to our planters and to the entire sugar industry,” said NFSP President Enrique D. Rojas.Rojas welcomed the leaders of the approximately 30 NFSP member-associations and cooperatives from all over the country, some of whom came from as far north as Cagayan Valley and as do...

Oct42026 by Nanette GuadalquiverNo Comments

DOE proposes immediate interventions to address Visayas power woes

Business, Community, Top Stories

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin has proposed immediate interventions for the recurring power outages in the Visayas grid as she stressed the need for a whole of government approach to address major power supply issues.Garin discussed the Visayas power situation and presented course of actions during the House of Representatives joint public hearing at L'Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City on Saturday.“The earliest (long-term) solutions for the whole Visayas is at 2028,” she said.As an immediate measure, Garin proposed tapping battery energy storage to help cushion supply disruptions while the Department of Energy (DOE) pursues long-term solutions.She added that the agency is also working to bring in power barges to augment electricity supply in the region.The DOE chief thank...

Oct42026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

SSS rolls out LoanLite microloan of up to P20,000

Business, Community, Top Stories

The Social Security System has launched a new digital microloan facility allowing qualified members to borrow from P1,000 to P20,000 for short-term financial needs.In a press release, SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Joseph de Claro said the SSS Micro Loan Program, also called SSS LoanLite, is available to employed, self-employed, voluntary and overseas Filipino worker members who meet the eligibility requirements.Members must have at least 12 posted monthly contributions to qualify.The loanable amount depends on the average of the member’s 12 latest Monthly Salary Credits, or MSCs.De Claro said repayment terms are available for 15, 30, 60 or 90 days, with an interest rate of 8 percent per year, equivalent to about 0.67 percent per month.Members with at ...

Oct42026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Workers, ARBs commend SRA for inclusive consultation

Business, Top Stories

The National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP) and the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) nationwide commended the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Saturday following what it called a highly productive, industry-wide consultative meeting held in Makati City.NACUSIP National President Roland de la Cruz, who was at the meeting, in a press statement praised SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona “for his visionary leadership in bringing planters, millers, refiners, and traders together to forge a unified direction for the Crop Year 2026-2027 milling season”."We congratulate and thank Administrator Azcona for organizing this thorough and transparent dialogue," De la Cruz said. "For too long, the voices of the workers and small beneficiar...