Business

May262026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Chiz: LGUs should prepare for El Niño; lauds Negros Occidental for planning ahead to mitigate impact

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has lauded the Negros Occidental government for taking early action to mitigate the expected impact of a looming El Niño, saying the province’s proactive coordination and preparedness should serve as a model for other local government units (LGUs) facing increasingly severe climate patterns.“Kapag may banta ng matinding init, kinakailangan ng konkretong plano, paghahanda, at maagap na aksyon para hindi masyadong mabigatan ang ating mga magsasaka at komunidad,” Escudero said. “Ang pagiging pro-active ni Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson at kanyang mga kasamahan sa lokal na pamahalaan ay malaking bagay para sa lalawigan.”“Dahil nga panay na ang paala-ala ng ating weather bureau sa paparating na tagtuyot dulot ng El Niño, sana ang iba’t ibang LGUs sa ating b...

May252026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Negros Occidental MSMEs land ₱7.3M in orders at IFEX 2026

Business, Top Stories

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. ...

May242026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

NOCCI backs proposed modern Dumaguete public market

Business, Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Edward Du and Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce president Greg Uymatiao at a consultation on the proposed public market, recently.*Dumaguete SP photoThe Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) supports the proposed construction of a new Dumaguete City Public Market, NOCCI President Edward C. Du said on Saturday, May 23.In a manifesto issued Friday, NOCCI said that it "firmly supports and believes that the construction of a new Dumaguete City Public Market represents a transformative opportunity to strengthen the city's economy, improve public services, uplift local enterprises, and prepare Dumaguete for the demands of future urban growth."NOCCI also commended the vision of the Dumaguete City go...

May242026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

SIBOL competition to debut new Negrense designs

Business, Top Stories

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...

May222026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

P16.2M in NegOcc crops damaged, OCD creating NIR task force El Niño

Business, Top Stories

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...

May212026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

First Lady among first visitors to Negros booth at IFEX Philippines

Business, Top Stories

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...

May192026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

PCCI Visayas backs 5 ‘game-changing’ resolutions for Negros, Siquijor growth

Business, Top Stories

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Visayas members meet*The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Visayas has unanimously approved five game-changing resolutions aimed at driving economic resilience, technological advancement, and tourism growth across the newly formed Negros Island Region (NIR), PCCI official said on Tuesday, May 19.The endorsement of the resolutions to the national government was finalized during the conclusion of the 3-day 35th Visayas Area Business Conference (VABC) in Bacolod City last week, which brought together regional business leaders and public officials, Edward Du, PCCI Philippine Chamber Development Institute Visayas vice chair, said.Originally drafted and presented by the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Negro...

May192026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Governor: Senate can redeem integrity at impeachment trial

Business, Top Stories

Senators take oath as impeachment court judges*Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Tuesday, May, 19, that if the members of the Senate want to redeem their integrity they should prove it during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.“The public will really be closely monitoring or watching this to find out if they really can redeem themselves,” he said.Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday called on the public to remain vigilant after the Senate convened as an impeachment court Monday.Lacson described the convening as a "breath of fresh air," especially in contrast to last week’s tense events, including the "smell of gunpowder" from a shooting incident in the Senate building.On Monday, the Senate formally convened into an impeachment court to tr...

May172026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Negros Power urges balanced, reliable energy solutions to fuel economic growth

Business

Highlighting the critical link between energy security and regional economic expansion, Negros Power participated in the 35th Visayas Area Business Conference (VABC), joining key industry leaders, business stakeholders, and innovators to discuss strategies for a more resilient and future-ready region. Anchored on the theme “Future Forward: Shaping Sustainable and Resilient Communities and Smarter Business,” the conference underscored the essential roles that infrastructure, innovation, and dependable power play in sustaining growth across the Visayas.During a presentation titled “Powering Growth: Energy as the Engine of Visayas Trade and Investment,” Roel Z. Castro, President and CEO of Primelectric Holdings Inc. and Negros Power, addressed the region's rapid...

May152026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Greg assures businessmen city will protect investments

Business, Top Stories

Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya at the 35th Visayas Area Business Conference.*Mayor Greg Gasataya assures businessmen in the Visayas that the Bacolod City government is fully committed to protecting all investments made in the city.Gasataya, in his speech at the 35th Visayas Area Business Conference (VABC) at L’Fisher Hotel Thursday, said creating a safe and supportive environment for enterprises remains a key priority of his administration.“We know that when you choose to invest, you are committing billions of pesos. And for us in Bacolod, we assure you that we will protect whatever you invest in your business in Bacolod City,” Gasataya said.The mayor reiterated that Bacolod continues to uphold policies designed to give confidence to investors and ensure that businesses ...