Business

The Department of Energy (DOE)-Visayas Field Office on Wednesday, August 12,  announced a 15-day price freeze for household liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in cylinders and kerosene products in Bacolod City.The directive cited the Bacolod City Council Resolution 887 passed on Aug. 5, declaring a state of calamity amid the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation in the city’s sugarcane farms.The price freeze, valid for 15 days – from Aug. 6 to 20 –  will implement prices used before the implementation of the state of calamity.“Any rollback of prices, however, shall be implemented while price increases are strictly prohibited within the 15-day period counted from the day of the state of calamity implementation,” the DOE-Visayas said in its public advisory.For...

Thirty fighting cocks worth an estimated P750,000 were reported stolen from a game farm in Bago City, Negros Occidental, police said Tuesday, Aug. 11.The Bago Component City Police Station said the theft happened at RGBT Game Farm in Brgy. Mailum at around 6 a.m. on Saturday,  Aug. 8.The farm owner, identified only as “Robert,” 55, reported the incident to police on Aug. 10.He told investigators that the missing fighting cocks were about six to eight months old, intended as seed fowls, and valued at around P25,000 each.Police said a woman living about 10 meters from the farm saw three unidentified individuals cutting the cords securing the game fowls at around 12:30 a.m.She also allegedly saw two other persons positioned near the perimeter fence who appeared to be ...

The provincial government provided pest control chemicals to all Local Government Units (LGUs) in Negros Oriental  during a ceremonial turnover Monday.*Governor Chaco Sagarbarria FB page photoNegros Oriental Governor Manuel L. Sagarbarria has issued Executive Order No. 51, Series of 2026, establishing the Provincial RSSI Containment and Agricultural Recovery Task Force to address the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation affecting local sugarcane plantations. The order, signed on August 7 and released Monday,  comes in response to a state of calamity declared by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to protect the province's vital sugar industry and agricultural livelihoods. Sagarbarria serves as chairperson of the new body, supported by Sugar Regulatory Admini...

Governor and LPCC Chairman Manuel "Chaco" L. Sagarbarria*The Negros Oriental Provincial Price Coordinating Council (PPCC) has passed a resolution  recommending the suggested retail price (SRP) range for pork, live hogs, and piglets across the province to curb volatile market prices and protect both consumers and local hog raisers during the ongoing African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak.Under Resolution No. 1, Series of 2026, approved by Provincial Governor and PPCC Chairman Manuel "Chaco" L. Sagarbarria on August 6, temporary price ranges recommended are:Pork (Local and Imported): ₱240 to ₱290 per kilogramPiglets: ₱2,500 to ₱5,000 per headLive Hogs (Buying price, live weight): ₱150 to ₱180 per kilogramThe resolution was introduced following serious disruptions i...

The annual Bacolod Rum Festival will return on Saturday, Aug. 15, featuring flair bartending and mixology competitions, live entertainment, and an evening street party.The festivities will begin at the SM City Bacolod North Block with the Flair Bartending Competition from 10:30 a.m. to noon. It will be followed by the Bacolod Signature Cocktail Competition from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., where mixologists will showcase drink creations inspired by the region’s sugar heritage and local flavors.At 6 p.m., the event shifts to North Capitol Road for the free Rum Dance Street Party. The open-admission evening program will feature live band performances, DJ sets, street dancing, and zumba sessions.Organizers said that adults of legal drinking age will be able to sample select rum products f...

The at-all-you-can blue crabs feast in EB Magalona on Saturday, August 8.*Andrew Altarejos photoThe domestic price of blue swimming crabs has gone up, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development is providing aid to industry stakeholders affected by the United States  export ban on the product, E.B. Magalona Vice Mayor Marvin Malacon said Sunday, August 9.Malacon said the eat-all-you-can blue crabs event at the E.B. Magalona covered court during the first two Saturday nights in August has driven up demand, resulting in much-needed price increases."The results have been very positive," he said.The blue crabs price, which dropped to ₱150–₱180 a kilo following the US export ban, has increased to ₱200 and above per kilo, Malacon said.The DSWD also announced t...

Emergency Cash Transfer beneficiaries in Moises Padilla.*DSWD NIR photoThe Department of Social Welfare and Development  (DSWD) has  disbursed  ₱64,727,425.00 in Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) assistance to 6,269 farmers and landowners in the Negros Island Region grappling with a widespread Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI) infestation as of Friday, the DSWD NIR reported on Sunday, August 9.Under the second wave of the ECT program alone, 5,246 affected agrarian workers and landowners received ₱54,164,950.00 to help mitigate livelihood losses caused by the agricultural pest.The RSSI outbreak has swept through 78,352 hectares of sugarcane plantations across NIR. Field assessments have confirmed damage covering 22,792.25 hectares, directly impacting 15,135 farmers, the DSWD NIR...