Business

The Department of Labor and Employment – Negros Island Region (DOLE-NIR) has begun distributing financial assistance under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) to sugarcane workers adversely affected by Typhoon Tino. A total of ₱9.97 million is slated for distribution to 9,970 sugar mill and field workers, who will receive ₱1,000 each, DOLE-Negros Occidental Officer-in-Charge Gretchen Pasiolan said on Monday, June 1.So far, ₱3.75 million has been distributed across eight mill districts in Negros Occidental, while ₱65,000 remains unclaimed from the first tranche.The beneficiaries covered by this initial rollout belong to the mill districts of BISCOM (Binalbagan-Isabela Sugar Co.) in Binalbagan, Universal Robina Corporation – Southern Negros Development Corporation (URC-SON...

PNA/Joan Bondoc file photoFuel prices are projected to drop by as much as PHP10 per liter in the coming week following consecutive increases in recent weeks, partly due to optimism over a possible outcome in peace negotiations between the United States and Iran.Citing price developments during the first four trading days this week, Department of Energy (DOE) Director Rino Abad on Friday said gasoline prices may decrease by as much as PHP4 per liter, diesel by as much as PHP8 per liter, and kerosene by as much as PHP10 per liter.The projected rollback would reverse this week’s price increases of around PHP1.90 per liter for diesel, PHP1.95 per liter for gasoline and PHP1.45 per liter for kerosene.Abad said that while fuel prices remain elevated, they have eased to around PHP...

 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...