Business

 MaryAnn Colmenares, NTF chairperson, at the launch at SM City Bacolod on Friday, May 29.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe Association of Negros Producers (ANP) is holding its milestone 40th Negros Trade Fair (NTF) at SM Aura Premier in Taguig City on September 22 to 27.Developed in collaboration with the Design Center of the Philippines, the theme for this milestone year is Butlak. The term refers to the "first light" or the initial glow of a new day, signaling a phase of maturity and abundance for the island’s producers, Mary Ann Colmenares, NTF chairperson, said at the launch at SM City Bacolod on Friday, May 29.Colmenares said the Bulawan grand winners on Friday were:Fine Jewelry Handicrafts Jewelry: The Unfolding – ChiEVs Stone and CrystalGarments Category: Bing Gonza...

(Images courtesy of Noceco, Razel Jane Sobusa)The Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (Noceco) admitted on Thursday, May 28,  that it erroneously charged a consumer in Hinigaran town PHP958,334.94 for electricity consumption in May, an error that went viral after the consumer posted her bill on Facebook, saying it gave her a "mini-heart attack." In a statement, the Noceco management said the consumer's "concern was caused by an encoding error following a meter replacement and has already been corrected." The consumer, located in Barangay Tagda, operates a water refilling station and a laundry shop. On May 18, Noceco received a complaint about a burned electric meter caused by damaged terminals. The followi...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson today, May 26, thanked members of the Association of Negros Producers (ANP) for their steadfast commitment to empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and for sustaining programs that open doors for local industries.Lacson joined the ANP for the opening of the 33rd Bulawan Design Award and Innovative Food Competition, the 4th Pilak Awards, and the 3rd Balik Salig Crafts Competition, as well as the launch of the 40th Negros Trade Fair (NTF) at SM City Bacolod.Also present at the launch were ANP chairperson Arlene Infante and NTF chairperson Mary Ann Colmenares.“As we launch the 40th Negros Trade Fair, may this milestone remind us of how far the Negrense entrepreneurial spirit has come—and how much more we can achieve toge...

Negros Occidental’s micro, small, and medium enterprises closed IFEX 2026 with ₱7.3 million in booked orders and ₱412,741 in retail sales over three days, marking a major step in expanding local products to global markets.The province fielded 42 qualified MSMEs this year, up from 27 in 2025.Top-selling items included banana chips, sarsa chips, toasted pastillas, bottled bagoong, and muscovado sugar.Buyers from the UAE, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, the USA, Japan, Taiwan, Canada, and three Philippine firms placed orders during the event.The Negros Occidental provincial government’s Technology and Livelihood Development Center (TLDC) also reported strong interest from international and national buyers for Saba banana, ube, and coconut, opening new opportunities for local farmers. ...

The Association of Negros Producers (ANP), in partnership with the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental (PGNO), will host SIBOL: 33rd Bulawan, 4th Pilak, and 3rd ANP-PGNO Balik Salig Design Competition and Awards at the SM City Bacolod Events Center from Tuesday to Friday, May 26 to 29.This event serves as the official launchpad for the 40th Negros Trade Fair season. As the first phase of this year’s landmark celebration, the four-day event marks thepremiere of original products that will eventually headline the grand 40th-anniversary trade fair in Manila this September, Mary Ann Colmenares, chairperson of the 2026 Negros Trade Fair, said on Sunday.These competitions exist to reinforce a culture of continuous creativity among local producers, she said. T...

Negros Island Region bracing for El Niño.*Andrew Altarejos photoThe damage to rice and high-value crops in Negros Occidental caused by moisture stress reached P16.2 million on Friday, April 22.The damage from April to May was included in a report submitted by OIC Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola to Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.The report said damage to rice was P15,889,421 and to high-value crops - P323,220, for a total of P16,222,641.The rice damage was reported in 26 barangays across Silay City, San Enrique, Bago City, Pulupandan, and Hinoba-an.Damage to high-value crops was reported in Pulupandan.Moisture stress is caused by a lack of water driven by extreme heat, Genzola said.Lacson earlier said that mitigating measures are being undertak...

First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos was among the first visitors to the Negros Occidental booth at the IFEX Philippines 2026 at the World Trade Center in Metro Manila that opened on Thursday, May 21.IFEX Philippines 2026 runs until Saturday.The provincial showcase is a collaborative push by the provincial government and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Negros Occidental to catapult local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), heritage craftsmanship, and iconic flavors into the national spotlight, the provincial government announced.Organizers said that public engagement at the three-day expo directly impacts grassroots development, noting that every visit, purchase, and show of support helps uplift MSMEs and strengthens local communities across Negros Occide...