Business

Nov152021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Zubiri: Subsidies, other solutions to mitigate soaring fertilizer prices

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri with sugar leaders Saturday, November 13.*Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said he has asked the Department of Agriculture (DA) to submit a comprehensive action plan to address the soaring prices of fertilizer, and to provide farmers with subsidies to mitigate its effects.“A few days ago, I talked with Agriculture Sec. William Dar. I approved the DA’s budget for 2022, with a colatilla that the DA should submit to the Senate a plan on how to address the problem on high fertilizer prices, and what concrete steps they would take to lower the prices of fertilizer,” the senator said in a meeting with sugar industry leaders at Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, on Saturday, November 13.Prices of urea were at P800 to 9...

Nov152021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Megaworld to continue making Bacolod ‘shine’ with developments

Business, Top Stories

Property giant Megaworld Corp. will continue to make Bacolod City “shine” with its developments, its senior assistant vice president and public relations and media affairs head, Harold Geronimo, said.Geronimo led the unveiling of the firm’s Christmas Village and the parol lighting program at Forbes Hill, its first upscale village outside Metro Manila, located at the boundary of the cities of Bacolod and Talisay in Negros Occidental, on Saturday, November 13.“I hope that this pandemic will not stop us from celebrating the true spirit of Christmas,” he said.Geronimo, a Negrense himself, said that he has been working closely with his friends and colleagues in Manila to make their township an exciting place to visit.“We hope that as we celebrate the Christmas Season – as part o...

Nov132021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

NFSP urges price cap, fertilizer importation

Business, Top Stories

Amid the uncontrolled increases in fertilizer prices, the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP) is calling on the government to impose a price cap or import fertilizer directly and sell them at lower cost to the farmers.“In coordination with Department of Trade and Industry, perhaps the DA can impose a price cap or Suggested Retail Price for fertilizers,” said NFSP president Enrique D. Rojas in his follow-up letter sent Wednesday, November 10, to Agriculture Secretary William Dar.The DA can also propose the direct government importation of fertilizers to be sold at break-even or subsidized prices, so that farmers can avail of fertilizers at a lower cost, he added.Sugar Regulatory Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica, Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Sen. Cynthia Vil...

Nov112021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Soaring fertilizer prices, imports threaten food security: Confed

Business

“Farmers need help from the government to address soaring costs of production.”The call was issued by Raymond Montinola, Confederation of Sugarcane Planters’ Associations national president, following a CONFED board meeting in Bacolod City on Thursday, November 11..“The cost of Urea and other fertilizers have gone beyond affordable levels, especially for our small farmers,” Montinola explained, adding that “with urea at Php2,000 per bag, our farmers will most likely reduce their inputs, leading to sudden drops in production.”“We are not talking only about sugarcane growers, but also about rice and other farmers who depend on fertilizers to maintain their production,” Montinola said in a press release.This development would constitute a serious threat to the country’s quest for ...

Nov112021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

P168M agricultural machinery distributed to Negros farmers

Business

Capitol photoA total of P168 million in rice farm machinery and equipment under the Department of Agriculture’s Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program, were distributed to various rice farmer cooperatives and associations in Negros Occidental, Thursday, November 11.Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Philmech Director Baldwin Jallorina led the distribution of the projects at the Panaad Park in Bacolod City.Distributed were 36 four-wheel tractors, 24 rice combine harvesters, 13 riding type transplanters, and 5 walk-behind transplanters.This project aims to reduce the cost of rice production and reduce postharvest losses, that will eventually help the farmers increase their productivity and income, a press release from the Capitol said.The impleme...

Nov112021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Cebu-based coop extends loans to Bacolod, Murcia farmers, drivers

Business

City PIO photoA total of P990,000 in loan assistance was extended by the Cebu People’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative to 63 farmers and jeepney drivers in Bacolod and Murcia on Wednesday, November 10, at the Barangay Villamonte Gym in Bacolod City.The Agri-Negosyo Loan Program or ANYO, was launched by the cooperative in partnership with the Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Credit Policy Council to help strengthen the food supply chain, small farmers and other grassroots stakeholders, a press release from the Bacolod City Public Information Office said.Thirty-three farmers, mostly from Barangays Alangilan and Mandalagan and Murcia town, received their loans alongside 30 jeepney drivers and operators plying the Central Market, Fortune Towne and Eroreco routes.The ANYO Loan...

Nov102021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Benitez distributes toolkits for Metro 3rd TESDA scholars

Business, Community

Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Negros Occidental, 3rd District) led the distribution of starter toolkits to 88 scholars of the 2020 Special Training for Employment Program of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) at separate programs in E.B. Magalona and Murcia on Tuesday, November 9.The office of Benitez partnered with TESDA to facilitate the conduct of community-based specialty training programs to promote livelihood and employment opportunities for the underprivileged and displaced workers in the barangays, a press release said.Acting Provincial TESDA Director Romelia Nuezca thanked Benitez for the support and participation of all cities and municipalities of the Third District, enabling them to teach and provide skills to many beneficiaries, especiall...

Nov92021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Bello: Covid jabs not mandatory, but required in three businesses

Business, Top Stories

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III reiterated on Tuesday, November 9, that vaccination against COVID-19 cannot be made mandatory."Persons cannot be forced to be vaccinated because we live under a democratic society,” Bello stressed at a press conference at the Negros Residences in Bacolod City.There is no law that requires everybody, including workers, to get vaccinated, he said.However, a national Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) resolution requires that workers at restaurants, hotels and personal care establishments must be fully vaccinated, he said.Meanwhile, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the Negros Occidental provincial government will abide by the guidelines of the NIATF on when minors can be allowed to go out of their homes.We are being guided by NIATF rules, and ...

Nov92021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Robredo addresses sugar industry concerns

Business, Top Stories

Vice President Leni Robredo (center) in a meeting with sugar industry leaders in Negros Occidental Friday, November 5.*Nic Ledesma photoVice President Leni Robredo directly addressed five key concerns of the sugar industry in a message she gave to industry representatives in Bacolod City on Friday, November 5.She also outlined her initial priorities if elected President in 2022.In the signed message she released Tuesday, November 9, Robredo said the Sugar Regulatory Administration must be in synch with its new roles mandated by the Sugar Industry Development Act or the SIDA Law, and urged the agency to fight for a level playing field to counter import liberalization, even as she stressed the need for government to find measures to make Philippine agriculture world-class and com...

Nov92021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Bacolod awards 11 more Safety Seals for compliant establishments

Business

City PIO photoEleven establishments found to be compliant with minimum public health standards received their Safety Seal Certificates from the Bacolod City government Monday, November 8.The new Safety Seal recipients included Jollibee - Lopue’s East Centre, Jollibee Bonifacio, UCC Coffee, School for Creative Beginners, City Mall-Mandalagan, Mang Inasal at CityMall-Mandalagan, Mang Inasal-Ayala Malls, Penshoppe - Ayala Malls, Our Home at SM City, MINISO-SM and Levi’s, also at SM City, Safety Seal Committee chair Stela Rose Rayos, said.The 11 business establishments, like the others that earlier received the Safety Seal, were commended by Mayor Evelio Leonardia for doing their part in the fight against COVID-19, a press release from the Bacolod Public Information Office said....