Business

Aug192026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

DA secretary allocates ₱300M for bioagent labs to fight sugarcane pest, explains importation stand

DA Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. (center) with SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona and Sugar Board member Dave Sanson (right) at the PhilSuTech convention in Cebu.*SRA photoThe Department of Agriculture has allocated a 2027 budget of P300 million for the development of laboratories or incubation centers to create bioagents versus the red-striped soft scale insects per municipality where sugarcane is planted, DA Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said on Wednesday, August 19.Tiu Laurel, who made the announcement in his speech at the opening of the 72nd PhilSuTech Annual National Convention in Cebu, said they are also putting on standby chemicals to fight the RSSI spread.The secretary has also mandated all available DA laboratories to augment the production of RSSI bi...

Aug192026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Gasataya inks MOA with Gugma Foundation as MassKara 2026 unveils new venues, fresh experiences

Business, Top Stories

Mayor Greg Gasataya (right) and MassKara Festival Director Rodney Ascalon after the signing of the MOA*BCCO photoMayor Greg Gasataya and the Bacolod Gugma Foundation, Inc. (BGFI) officially sealed their partnership for the 2026 MassKara Festival through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed Wednesday, August 19, paving the way for “another vibrant celebration” this October.Gasataya, together with Festival Director Rodney Ascalon, announced several significant changes aimed at enhancing public safety, crowd management, and the overall festival experience, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said.“The arena competition is expected to move from the Paglaum Sports Complex to a new venue following safety assessments. The street dancing competition will likew...

Aug192026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Task force conducts fungal spraying in 8 NegOcc LGUs to halt RSSI spread: guv

Business

The Provincial Biosecurity Task Force for Agriculture has conducted perimeter road-spraying operations across 694.60 hectares of sugarcane fields in eight local government units in Negros Occidental as part of its biocontrol intervention against the Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI) infestation, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Tuesday, August 18.The road-spraying strategy focuses on applying Entomopathogenic fungi along field perimeters to establish protective treatment zones. These boundaries serve as crucial entry and exit points for RSSI, meaning edge treatments actively prevent the pest population from expanding into or escaping treated areas, Engr. Colen M. Ocalinas, task force action officer, said.There are some good results where RSSI infestation has been lowered, Lacson sa...

Aug182026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Negros Power electricity rates slightly up in August

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Negros Power customers will see a slight increase in their electricity rates this August, with the average residential rate set at ₱14.2787 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).This is an increase of ₱0.1500 per kWh from July’s rate of ₱14.1287 per kWh, a press release from Negros Power said Tuesday, August 18.The increase is mainly due to higher transmission and other charges, despite a decrease in the cost of generating electricity.The Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) rate increased from ₱10.4213/kWh to ₱12.2420/kWh because of higher electricity demand and the temporary unavailability of several power plants. These conditions resulted in Yellow and Red Alerts in the Luzon and Visayas grids, causing electricity prices in the spot market to rise.To help lessen the impact on cust...

Aug172026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Sugar Council, 2 labor groups back nat’l Anti-RSSI Ad Hoc Committee, call for Sugar Board revamp

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Ronnie Baldonado file photoThe Sugar Council and two labor groups on Monday, August 17, pledged their full participation in the newly created National Anti-RSSI (Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect) Ad Hoc Committee in the hope that it will finally provide solutions to one of the worsening problems of the sugar industry.The Sugar Council, composed of the Confederation of Sugarcane Producers Associations Inc. (CONFED), National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP), and Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers (PANAYFED), announced its participation along with the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP) and Democratic Association of Labor Organizations (DALO).The creation of this ad hoc committee is a direct testament to the Sugar Regulatory ...

Aug172026 by Joann VillanuevaNo Comments

Fuel prices up by as much as P5/L this week

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PNA file photoDomestic pump prices are set to increase by over PHP5 per liter this week amid geopolitical uncertainties in the Middle East.Three oil companies announced price hikes effective 6 a.m. Tuesday, led by Seaoil and Petron Corporation raising kerosene by PHP5 and PHP5.01 per liter, respectively.For diesel, Jetti Petroleum will implement a PHP3.80 per liter increase, while Seaoil and Petron will raise prices by PHP3.84 and PHP3.90, respectively.Gasoline adjustments range from PHP2.40 at Jetti, PHP2.49 at Seaoil, and PHP2.50 at Petron.This week's oil price jump is a reversal of the rollback in the past two weeks.In an online briefing Monday, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin attributed the uptick in domestic fuel prices to the upward trend of oil products in the ...

Aug162026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

First Lady’s meeting spurs creation of national RSSI Ad Hoc Committee: NACUSIP

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First Lady Liza Marcos during the sugar meeting in Bacolod City on Friday.*Liza Marcoa FB page photoThe creation of a national Red Striped Soft Shell Insect (RSSI) ad hoc committee was agreed on during First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos’ meeting with sugar industry stakeholders on the worsening infestation, Roland C. de la Cruz, president of the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP), said Sunday, August 16.The committee is envisioned to mobilize a whole-of-government approach to effectively address the infestation, strengthen diagnostics, and ensure transparent and timely interventions, he said.Alarm has been raised over the unprecedented threat that has severely impacted the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of sugar farmers, workers, a...

Aug162026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

UNIFED vows full support to Sugar Board, thanks FL for helping industry

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SRA Department Manager III Helen Lobaton, Deputy Administrator Lourdes Almodiente, SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona, First Lady Liza Marcos and DA NIR Regional Director Albert Barrogo (l-r) at the meeting in Bacolod on Friday.*The United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED) declared full support to the current leadership of the Department of Agriculture and the Sugar Regulatory Administration amidst challenges of pest infestation, floods, and the impending El Niño.UNIFED President Manuel Lamata thanked First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos for bringing together sugar industry stakeholders to discuss common goals for the good of the sugar industry, a press release from the federation said Sunday, August 16.“It is unfortunate that among the federations, UNIFED was the only one presen...

Aug142026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Albee urges banks to enter into partnerships, instead of modern jeepney foreclosures

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First Lady Marie Louise "Liza" Araneta-Marcos with Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez at the STI West Negros University Gym in Bacolod City on Friday, August 14.*Ronnie Baldonado photoDeputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez is coordinating with banking institutions to establish possible partnerships with modernized jeepney cooperatives, many of which are currently facing loan defaults.“We are coordinating with banks to enter into partnerships [with operators] instead of straight loans,” Benitez said on Friday, August 14. “I called Landbank, and they are studying what can be done. The suggestion is that instead of foreclosure, they enter into partnerships with modern jeepney operators so they can continue operating,” he s...

Aug142026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

First Lady hears sugar industry concerns on pest damage, says president to visit soon

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First Lady Marie Louise "Liza" Araneta-Marcos distributing rice with Bacolod Mayor Greg Gastaya at the STI West Negros University Gym.*Ronnie Baldonado photoFirst Lady Marie Louise "Liza" Araneta-Marcos met with sugar industry stakeholders in Bacolod City on Friday, August 14, to listen to concerns over widespread crop destruction caused by red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) and to assure them that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will visit the province soon, Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said."The First Lady is concerned, and the Palace is concerned. She wanted to get firsthand accounts of what is going on regarding RSSI, which has become a national concern, so she can relay them to the President," Benitez told DIGICAST NEGROS."She ca...