Business

Sugar Order No. 3 for Crop Year 2021-2022 allowing the importation of 200,000 metric tons of standard and bottler’s grade refined sugar was issued by the Sugar Board after considering the shortfall on the ending balance of refined sugar, SRA Hermenegildo Serafica said Tuesday, February 8.This is pursuant to its mandate to establish and maintain such balanced relation between production and requirement of sugar and such marketing conditions as will ensure stabilized prices, he said.After assessing the damage caused by typhoon “Odette” to sugarcane crops, sugar stocks at warehouses, as well as facilities and equipment of sugar mills and refineries in key sugar milling districts, the SRA recalibrated its pre-final crop estimate of raw sugar production to 2.072 MT down from the 2.099 M...

Leading mobile wallet GCash is looking forward to forging stronger partnerships with law enforcement agencies after its efforts, in collaboration with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), led to a major bust of suspected fraudsters preying on its customers.GCash worked closely with the NBI Cybercrime Division (NBI CCD) to arrest a gang allegedly defrauding users of the digital wallet, among them two Nigerians and three Filipinos arrested in separate operations last week.Their racket allegedly involved selling scam pages, including an imitation of the GCash webpage to dupe users via phishing to get sensitive data.GCash helped report detected phishing sites, promptly responded to subpoenas issued by the court on disclosure of computer data, assisted victims in filing compl...

DAR photoThe Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is set to distribute 4, 729 hectares of agricultural land to 4, 754 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Negros Occidental on Tuesday, February 8.The land to be distributed cover the 17 municipalities and cities in the province, a DAR press release said.These are cities of Sagay, San Carlos, Silay, Talisay, Victorias, Bago, Himamaylan and Sipalay and municipalities of Toboso, Binalbagan, Cauayan, Hinigaran, Ilog, Isabela, La Castellana, Moises Padilla and Pontevedra.DAR Secretary Bernie Cruz will lead the distribution of 8, 259 certificates of landownership award to farmer beneficiaries at Barangay 2, Sipalay City.DAR-Western Visayas Regional Director Sheila Enciso said of the number of hectarage, 3, 034 hectares will ...

Two Yanson owned bus firms held their annual stockholders’ meetings and re-elected the members of their board of directors on Monday, February 7.The family matriarch Olivia V. Yanson (OVY) led the meetings.The stockholders of Ceres Transport Inc. (CTI), which plies the Luzon routes, re-elected OVY, Leo Rey Yanson, Ginnette Y. Dumancas, Charles M. Dumancas, Rey C. Ardo, Daniel Nicolas P. Golez, Arvin John V. Villaruel, Anita G. Chua, Joseph Ellery L. Villanueva, Hernan B. Omecillo and Alfredo O. Ligo as directors, a press release said.At the annual stockholders' meeting of Goldstar Bus Transit Inc. (GBTI), which also plies the major routes in Luzon, OVY said putting the key cities of the country under Alert Levels 3 and 2 is a good indication that the government is easing people...

The United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED) is calling for the resignation of Sugar Regulatory Administrator, Hermenegildo Serafica, for the issuance of Sugar Order No. 3 that allows the importation of 200,000 metric tons of refined sugar for industrial users.UNIFED President, Manuel Lamata, in a press release Sunday, February 6, said that “There seems to be a midnight deal between the SRA, the Department of Agriculture and a giant bottling company to be given this preferential treatment.”“In due time we will reveal and boycott that beverage company”, he said.“It is appalling that here is a giant bottling company who will gain much from this importation program to avoid buying from the local industry. They’ve been at this before and we are not surprised that they are at it a...

The National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP) registered its objection and requested the Sugar Regulatory Administration to reconsider its decision in what the federation deems as “excessive importation” of sugar.SRA released Sugar Order No. 3 Thursday, February 3, which allows the importation of 200,000 metric tons of sugar.In his letter to SRA Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica, NFSP President Enrique D. Rojas stated that the importation far exceeds the projected production shortfall for Crop Year 2021-2022.Rojas asked SRA to amend the sugar order and reduce the allowable volume of importation.“We hope that your good office will seriously consider our recommendation to prevent the drop in millgate sugar prices, which will be disastrous to our thousands of small fa...

Capitol photoThe Negros Occidental provincial government through the Technology and Livelihood Development Center (TLDC) distributed tools and equipment to 18 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from the eight local government units (LGUs) of the province.Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz led the ceremonial distribution of the projects, held at the Capitol Grounds in Bacolod City, Thursday, February 3, a press release from the Capitol said.The project aims to strengthen the MSMEs, as the provincial government acknowledges its contribution to the province’s socio-economic development and employment generation, it said.Among the tools and equipment distributed were chest freezer, gas range, coffee maker, refrigerator, stainless steel table with sink, cake chille...

Capitol photoMore than 700 farmers of Don Salvador Benedicto town in Negros Occidental received Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) worth P3.5 million in a ceremonial turn over led by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Executive Director, Remelyn Recoter, at Brgy. Bunga, DSB, Thursday, January 3.The RFFA from the DA provides financial assistance to rice farmers as compensation for the projected reduction of farm income arising from the tariffication on rice.Meanwhile, the Isabela provincial government donated 10,000 packs of rice (2 kg per pack) to Negros Occidental for distribution to typhoon-affected LGUs in the province.Another 5,000 packs of rice will also be sent to Sipalay City, through the Isabela Provincial Social Welfare and D...

Globe has received yet another global recognition for its network upgrade and modernization efforts, winning top prizes at the 5G Global Mobile Network Experience Awards 2021.The top Philippine firm placed first in 5G improvement over 4G for Games Experience, and second in 5G improvement over 4G for Video Experience, owing to its massive investments in network improvements.At its 2021 awards, independent global standard Opensignal recognized Globe for having the largest uplift in mobile multiplayer gaming experience, with an improvement of 65.2%. 5G Video experience with Globe was also elevated to a rating of excellent, with an uplift of 32.8% better than 4G.The results highlight impressive improvements in user experience that can be achieved through extensive investments in 5G...