Business

The Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations (CONFED) is strongly opposing a substitute Senate Bill proposing another amendment to the Biofuels Act of 2006.  The amendment will “allow the importation of biofuel components such as bioethanol and biodiesel regardless of the supply level of locally produced biofuel components, if the price of blended gasoline and/or diesel engine fuels is higher by at least 5 percent compared to pure gasoline and/or diesel engine fuels”, a press release from CONFED said Thursday, March 19.   The approval of the amendment will cause additional damage to the Sugar Industry, which at present is suffering from the effects of low millgate prices, CONFED President Aurelio Gerardo J. Valderrama said in letter Wednesday, March 18, to Senate President Vicente Sot...

SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona and NACUSIP President Roland C. de la Cruz (l-r) during a recent meeting in Congress.*The National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines–Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (NACUSIP-TUCP) on Thursday, March 19, said it stands firmly with Rep. Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) in denouncing the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) for its “campaign of misinformation and baseless blame-shifting.”Benitez on Wednesday, March 18, denied claims circulating online that a congressional hearing triggered the decline in sugar prices, saying the market downturn was caused by oversupply and policy decisions, not legislative oversight.He described the allegations as baseless and irresponsible, noting that th...

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announcing the suspension of planned fare hikes for public transport*President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said he has ordered the immediate suspension of planned fare hikes to shield commuters from rising costs, while promising transport workers expanded government support, during a video message on Wednesday, March 18.The President said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has been directed to defer the implementation of the fare increases, emphasizing that now is not the right time to impose additional costs on workers, students, and daily commuters who rely on the transport system.He assured transport operators and drivers that the government will expand support measures, including the rollout of free rides nationwide, to help mitigate the impa...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II during the  online Local Chief Executives’ Briefing with the Department of Energy on Tuesday.* Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on Wednesday, March 18, called on Negrenses not to resort to panic buying, to tighten their belts, and to hold off unnecessary travel as fuel prices continue to soar.“Let’s continue to pray a solution to the Middle East crisis will be found,” Lacson also said.Energy Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella on Tuesday conducted an online briefing with local chief executives on the country's oil supply situation. Fuentebella informed them that the country has more than 30 days of fuel reserves, Lacson said.He also assured that the Philippines is looking for oth...

Many Negrenses drive up to Don Salvador Benedicto on weekends.*Ronnie Baldonado photoNegros Occidental’s tourism industry and the upcoming Panaad sa Negros Festival are expected to be affected by the rising fuel prices, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Wednesday, March 18.Domestic tourism will be affected with less people traveling because of the rise in fuel prices, he said.For example fewer people will be driving up to Don Salvador Benedicto on weekends, he said.Lacson also said there could be a drop in attendees from out of town at the Panaad sa Negros Festival, which is scheduled to run from April 13 to 19.Despite these concerns, the governor expects that Bacolod residents will still flock to the festival in large numbers.*

Jess and Ligaya Marañon (3rd and 2nd from left), the owners of the art house,  with guests.* Robert Harland photos  Bacolod City’s cultural landscape continues to flourish, and the reopening of the J&L Marañon Art House at Osmena Aveñue, adds another distinctive attraction to the growing list of places of interest in the city.Once a popular destination, the house had been closed for several years, but owners Jess and Ligaya Marañon, who are based in London, have now entrusted its management to Bacolod Arts, Cultural and Heritage Inc. (BACHI) under the leadership of Sandy Solinap.Acting Negros Occidental Provincial Tourism Officer Raymond Alunan, Bacolod Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., ace tour guide Artie Lacson, curator Sandy S. Soli...

Bacolod protestors call for an end of the war in the Middle East.* Romeo Subaldo photoMilitant groups staged a protest in Bacolod City on Tuesday, March 17, following the government’s announcement of a ₱1 fare hike for traditional jeepneys and a ₱2 increase for modern units amid soaring fuel prices. Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chair Vigor Mendoza II said the adjustment raises the minimum fare for traditional jeepneys to ₱14, with a ₱2 charge for every succeeding kilometer. Modern jeepney fares will rise to ₱17, with a ₱2.30 rate for every kilometer beyond the minimum. The Department of Energy reported that diesel prices surged by ₱20.40 to ₱23.90 per liter, while gasoline rose by ₱12.90 to ₱16.60 on Tuesday. Noli Rosales, Bayan Muna Negros secretary gen...

Kanlaon’s moderately explosive eruption on Sunday.* Marvin Escander photoKanlaon Volcano will remain under Alert Level 2 for now despite its recent moderately explosive eruption, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Director Teresito Bacolcol said on Tuesday, March 17.The recent moderately explosive eruptions at Kanlaon are consistent with its Alert Level 2 status, he said.“For now, we are not considering raising it to Alert Level 3… at this point, the assessment remains at Alert Level 2,” Bacolcol said.However, residents living beyond Kanlaon’s 4-kilometer permanent danger zone must be ready at any time should activities at Kanlaon escalate to Alert Level 3, Bacolcol added.Donato Sermeno III, Director of the Office of Civil Defense for the Ne...

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday, March 17, reminded the private sector of available flexible work arrangements -- such as a four-day/compressed workweek or work-from-home scheme -- that can help ease operational costs while protecting workers’ welfare. Under a compressed workweek arrangement, the standard 40-hour workweek may be distributed across four working days instead of five, with the corresponding hours added from Monday to Thursday if work is suspended on Friday. On the other hand, under a work-from-home arrangement, employees may follow a regular eight-hour onsite schedule from Monday to Thursday with work performed remotely on Friday, depending on the nature of work. DOLE spokesperson Assistant Secretary Lennard Constantine Serrano said such arrangements ...