Business

Jan62021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

SSS’ scheduled contribution rate increase to ensure continuous delivery of social security protection

The Social Security System (SSS) on Monday, January 6, said that the scheduled increase in its contribution rate and minimum and maximum monthly salary credits (MSCs) is to ensure the continuous delivery of social security protection to its members and their beneficiaries.SSS President and CEO Aurora Ignacio said that the SSS has been listening to the clamor of various labor groups and members to defer the said mandated increases; however, the move is designed to protect the fund life of the SSS."We understand the plight of our covered employers and members, but, at the same time, it is our duty to secure the long-term viability of the SSS fund entrusted to us for the continuous delivery of SSS benefits to our current and future members, as well as their beneficiaries," Ignacio sai...

Jan62021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Business One-Stop-Shop now at Ayala Malls

Business

City PIO photoThe Business One-Stop-Shop (BOSS) of Bacolod City for 2021 is being held for the first time outside of the Government Center to ensure strict compliance with health protocols.It is now open at the 4th floor of the Ayala Malls Capitol Central from January 4 to March 31, a press release from the Bacolod City Public Information Office said.The BOSS caters to the application or renewal of Mayor’s Permits (Business Permits) for 2021, and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the conduct of BOSS at the mall aims to have a wider space conducive to observing the basic health protocols against COVID-19.“Just as important as observing health protocols, we designed this system in line with our business-friendly policies which w...

Jan52021 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

WV inflation slightly up

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PNA file photoInflation in Western Visayas has slightly increased to 3.7 percent in December from 3.5 percent in November, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed today, January 5.The national headline also went up to 3.5 percent from 3.3 percent in the previous month, PSA said.The uptrend in inflation, or the rate of increase in consumer prices, was primarily due to the 4.8 percent inflation increase in heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages.Moreover, annual increments were higher in the indices of health at 2.6 percent; transport, 8.3 percent; and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services, at 2.5 percent.On the other hand, inflation slowed down in the indices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 12.2 percent; housing, water, electricity, g...

Jan42021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

CLTTI stockholders meet, Olivia, Leo Rey in control

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Olivia and Leo Rey Yanson remain in control of Ceres Liner Travel and Tours Inc. (CLTTI), which held its annual stockholders meeting at its principal office in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, today, January 4.During the meeting Olivia – the Yanson matriarch, Leo Rey, Ginnette Dumancas, Charles Dumancas, Anita Chua, Arvin John Villaruel, and Daniel Nicolas Golezwere were re-elected as members of the CLTTI Board of Directors, a press release from the group said.The board then reappointed Leo Rey as chairman of the board and president of CLTTI, and his mother, Olivia, as corporate secretary and treasurer.Despite due notice, stockholders Roy Yanson, Ma. Lourdes Celina Yanson-Lopez, and Ricardo Yanson Jr. were absent, the press release said.Roy, Celina and Ricardo were unabl...

Jan32021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Sugar leaders upbeat about industry in 2021

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Sugar leaders are upbeat about the industry in 2021 with better yield seen.Sugar Regulatory Administration chief Hermenegildo Serafica told DIGICAST NEGROS that based on the monitoring of the SRA research development and extension team, the standing canes are looking better than last year's crop.“Considering that we did not have major typhoons hitting the Visayas and Mindanao, we expect that we will be hitting our target this crop year, “ he said.Visayas accounts for about 70 percent of the country’s total sugar production and Mindanao accounts for more or less 20 percent, he said.“Once the rains minimize beginning this January, we also expect our LKG/TC to recover. LKG/TC is the amount of sugar produced per ton of cane,” Serafica said.The rain lowers the sugar content ...

Dec302020 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

Sugarcane, rice inter-cropping practice in Negros Occidental addresses ‘dead season’

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OPA photoThe chair of the Mindanao Development Authority has again lauded Negros Occidental’s practice on inter-cropping of sugarcane and rice, that he said addresses the “age-old curse Tiempo Muerto.”Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol, former secretary of the Department of Agriculture, said the province has found an answer to “Tiempo Muerto (Dead Season),” which was coined to describe joblessness and hunger during the period between planting and harvesting of sugarcane.This is the period, which stretches for about five to six months, when hunger stalks the families of sugarcane workers, he said in a Facebook post.“Seeing a window of opportunity to grow rice alongside young sugarcane, the Provincial Agriculture Office of Negros Occidental and sugar farmer participants initiated the Sug...

Dec302020 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

MBCCI pushes for sustainable, cohesive growth in WV

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City PIO file photoThe Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) is pushing for sustainable and cohesive economic recovery efforts in Western Visayas.MBCCI Chief Executive Officer Frank Carbon said local government units (LGUs) in the region should ensure that the active cases are put to a controllable level to allay public fears over infection.“They should prepare a ‘ready to go’ program to generate jobs and livelihood,” he said.These programs should readily catch the financial stimulus funds of the “Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2)” that support the recovery efforts of the business sector and LGUs, he added.The LGUs, he said, should further ensure that the basic needs of the populace are met and goods are at affordable price such as fish vege...

Dec292020 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

Bacolod, four others among most competitive LGUs in WV

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DTI-6 photoBacolod City and four other component cities in Negros Occidental were cited as among the most competitive local government units in Western Visayas.During the 4th Regional Competitiveness Council-6 Recognition Ceremony for Competitive LGUs, that was led by the Department of Trade and Industry-6, at the Zuri Hotel in Iloilo City today, December 29, a total of 46 awards were conferred to 29 localities, where some of them garnered more than one recognition.The cities and municipalities are ranked based on their overall competitiveness score measured through their economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, and resiliency.Of the six provinces in the region, Aklan was hailed as the most competitive province.For economic dynamism, which was associate...

Dec282020 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

Sugar output up by 30.86% in 1st week of December

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Local production of sugar in the country has dramatically increased by 30.86 percent in the first week of December compared to the same period in the previous year, the Sugar Regulatory Administration said.In the latest supply and demand situation report of SRA, from September 1 to December 6, the total production of raw sugar was 407,770 metric tons, or 8.155 million 50-kilo bags, compared to the same period in the previous year with 311,617 MT, or 6.232 million 50-kg bags.The demand for raw sugar has also increased by 18.62 percent, from 343,597 MT to 407,569 MT during the period, SRA said.However, the production of refined sugar fell by 33.76 percent at 73,293 MT from 110,654 MT in the previous year, SRA said.The production of molasses, meanwhile, increased by 32.06 perc...

Dec232020 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

P1.262-M in pork products intercepted

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PVO file photoThe Provincial African Swine Fever Task Force has intercepted P1.262 million worth of pork products in port terminals in Negros Occidental from December 14 to 20.Dr. Ryan Janoya, head of the Animal Health and Meat Inspection Services Division of the Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office, said that the largest haul during the period was the pork belly and assorted meat products worth P1.232 million from Cebu.He said that the driver of the truck had no documents to show, so they shipped back the pork products to their point of origin.He said that pork products from Cebu or any area in the Visayas are allowed to enter the province since they remain free from the virus.Other pork products such as sausages, bacon, ham, chicharon, pork belly, siomai, du...