Business

Oct12026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Proposed Maceda Law changes could give Negros homebuyers longer payment grace periods

Business, Community, Press Release, Top Stories

Homebuyers in Negros who purchase residential properties on installment could receive stronger protection against contract cancellation and payment penalties under proposed amendments to the 54-year-old Realty Installment Buyer Protection Act.Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said Thursday, Oct. 1, that he is pushing amendments to Republic Act No. 6552, commonly known as the Maceda Law, to provide additional safeguards for buyers who experience difficulty paying their installments.The existing law covers installment purchases of real estate, including residential condominium units, and provides grace periods and refund rights to qualified buyers who default on succeeding payments.The proposed changes would apply nationwide, including to covered installment homebuyers in Negros Islan...

Oct12026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Amity Volunteer Fire Brigade opens applications for rescue technicians

Business, Community, Top Stories

The Amity Volunteer Fire Brigade in Bacolod City has opened applications for individuals who want to train and serve as volunteer rescue technicians.In a press conference on Wednesday night, Sept. 30, Amity said the recruitment is open to applicants aged 21 to 40 who are at least senior high school graduates, physically and mentally fit to undergo training, and have no criminal record.Amity Volunteer Fire Brigade officials (from left) Jucar Caspe, assistant deputy for rescue; Parrick Palses, assistant fire chief for communication; Samuel Ko, fire chief of the Amity Volunteer Fire Brigade; Hitchel Mombay, assistant fire chief for maintenance; Rutha Rojo, planning officer; and Rumrum Rojo, deputy chief for emergency medical services, during a press conference announcing the opening o...

Oct12026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Bago becomes first Negros Island LGU with 2 licensed primary care facilities

Business, Community, Top Stories

Bago City has become the first local government unit in the Negros Island Region to operate two licensed primary care facilities after the Barangay Ma-ao Health Station passed its assessment on Wednesday, Sept. 30.The city government said the Ma-ao facility was granted a license to operate as a Primary Care Facility following an assessment conducted by the Regulation, Licensing and Enforcement Division of the Department of Health-Negros Island Region.The RLED team was led by Dr. Anna Andrea Libo-on, while the Barangay Ma-ao Health Station team was headed by Dr. Elijah Blaise Bimbao under the supervision of City Health Officer Dr. Ferdinand Ramon Mayoga.Bago City Mayor Marina Javellana said Brgy. Ma-ao is also the first barangay in the Negros Island Region to have a licensed...

Sep302026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Pagbayad sang bill pakadto sa pagbakal shares: GCash magahatag oportunidad para makasugod sa panibag-o nga investment paagi sa IPO

Business, Top Stories

Humalin sa pagpadala sang kwarta, pagbayad sang bills, kag pagbakal sang load, mahimo nga sa masunod pwede na maka-angkon sang shares sang GCash ang pumuluyo sang Bacolod City kag Negros Occidental.Nagahanda na ang Mynt, ang parent company sang GCash, sang ila initial public offering ukon IPO para sa publiko.Paagi sini, mahimo makabakal sang shares ang mga interesado kag mangin kabahin sang mga tag-iya sang negosyo.Base sa press release sang GCash, gintawag sang business commentator kag market observer nga si Mon Monson ang ginaplano nga pagtanyag nga “Pambansang IPO,” bangud pamilyar ang madamo nga Pilipino sa serbisyo nga ila ginagamit adlaw-adlaw.Ginpaathag ni Monson nga bisan indi kilala sang iban nga Pinoy ang mga kumpanya sa nagligad nga mga IPO, kilala nila ang GCash...

Sep302026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Negros Oriental returns to 4-day workweek amid rising fuel, energy costs

Business, Community, Negros Oriental, Top Stories

The Negros Oriental provincial government has reimplemented a four-day compressed workweek as a temporary energy conservation and cost-saving measure amid renewed increases in fuel prices and continuing energy cost volatility.Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria issued Executive Order No. 58, Series of 2026, which took effect Monday, Sept. 28.Under the arrangement, covered provincial government employees will report onsite from Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break from noon to 1 p.m.Employees will work 10 hours a day to complete the required 40-hour workweek, while Friday will generally be designated as a non-working day subject to service requirements.Job order and contract of service personnel will follow the same compressed schedule without re...

Sep302026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

NACUSIP, ARB’s call for 100% classification of country’s sugar for domestic market to protect farmers

Business, Top Stories

NACUSIP President Roland de la Cruz.*The National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP TUCP) and the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Council (ARB Council) are calling on the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to classify 100 percent of the country's sugar production as "B" (Domestic Market) for Crop Year 2026–2027. In a joint position paper submitted to the regulatory agency, labor and agrarian leaders highlighted mounting production shortfalls driven by severe pest infestations and unpredictable weather patterns.An exclusive domestic allocation is critical to protect local farmers, mill workers, and consumers from severe price volatility and premature market flooding from foreign imports, NACUSIP President Roland de la Cruz said Wednesday,...

Sep292026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Philippines, Japan to strengthen sustainable sugarcane industry through Green Asia Plus

Business, Top Stories

SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona on top of the donated deep planting planters machine with Japanese officials led by Japan Minister for Economic Affairs Yokota Naobumi (2nd from right), JIRCAS President, Dr Hasegawa Toshihiro (4th from left) and SRA Board Member Dave Andrew Sanson (right).* SRA photoThe launching of Green Asia +, a collaborative project between the Philippines and Japan heralded the turnover to the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) of deep planting planters and partial deep tillage machines for sustainable sugarcane production in the country in a ceremony held Monday at the SRA headquarters in Quezon City. SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona who received the two machines that will be deployed in sugar producing areas in Mindanao and Luzon th...

Sep292026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Bacolod extends free rides as transport strike enters second day

Business, Community, Top Stories

Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya (3rd from Left) is joined by City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu (right) and City Administrator Atty. Mark Steven Mayo (second from right) during a meeting with local transport leaders on Monday, Sept. 28.Bacolod City will continue providing free rides to commuters on Tuesday, Sept. 29, as a nationwide three-day transport strike over rising fuel prices enters its second day.Mayor Greg Gasataya directed the City Administrator’s Office and City Engineer’s Office to continue the city’s Libre Sakay operations following a meeting with transport leaders on Monday, Sept. 28.Free rides will be available at designated pickup points in Bata near the Mormons Church, Alijis at the Circumferential Road crossing near 7-Eleven, Handumanan at the barangay gym...

Sep292026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

From paying bills to buying shares: GCash offers Negrosanons a way to start investing

Business, Top Stories

For residents of Bacolod City and Negros Occidental curious about owning a small part of a Philippine company, getting started could take just a phone, a fully verified GCash account, and as little as P500.GCash said its GStocks PH service allows users to open a stock trading account, add funds, and place orders through the app, without needing a bank account or visiting a separate brokerage office.Buying a share means owning a small portion of a company.Through GStocks PH, users can choose from more than 280 companies listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).The service connects users to AB Capital Securities Inc., the broker that handles their trading account.To register, users can select GStocks PH on the GCash homepage or Invest tab, choose AB Capital Secur...

Sep272026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Negros Oriental, Siquijor workers to get P42 daily wage hike starting Oct. 14

Business, Community, Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Minimum wage earners in Negros Oriental and Siquijor will receive a P42 daily wage increase starting Oct. 14, 2026, under a wage adjustment approved for private sector workers covered by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) VII.Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino announced the increase on Saturday, Sept. 26, saying it is equivalent to an additional P1,092 a month.The wage adjustment also covers Cebu and Bohol, with the Department of Labor and Employment estimating that 337,476 workers across the four provinces will benefit.Although Negros Oriental and Siquijor are part of the Negros Island Region (NIR), they remain covered by RTWPB VII for minimum wage-setting purposes, while Negros Occidental remains under RTWPB VI in Western Visayas.The wage adjustme...