Business

 A demonstration on the proper insecticide application techniques against the red-striped soft scale insect affecting sugarcane farms.*National Crop Protection Center photoThe National Crop Protection Center (NCPC) has provided assistance to sugarcane farmers in some local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental in strengthening sustainable management of the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI).In a report posted on Monday, the University of the Philippines Los Baños-based NCPC said its team led by Dr. Barbara Caoili visited the province on July 15 to 17 and conducted a series of trainings, field assessments and stakeholder meetings.These activities, which promoted science-based, environmentally sound, and sustainable RSSI management practices, were part of the NCPC’s part...

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has filed a measure proposing to overhaul the country’s product regulatory system by transferring several functions of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to other government agencies better aligned with the nature and risks of the products they oversee.In filing Senate Bill No. 2310 bill, Escudero said his proposed reform aims to streamline government regulation, reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, and strengthen public health and consumer protection through a science‑based, risk‑informed framework across agencies.He also said the measure addresses long‑standing overlaps and delays that affect both consumers and businesses.“Product regulation efficiency is critical for promoting public health and safety, and for protecting consumers from tra...

PNA file photoThe June 2026 inflation rate for all income households in Negros Occidental decelerated to 3.5 percent, while Bacolod City’s went slightly higher to 7.1 percent, data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Wednesday< July 15, showed.In Negros Occidental, last month’s headline inflation followed the 4.2 percent in May.“The downtrend in the overall inflation in June 2026 was primarily brought about by the lower year-on-year growth rate in the indices of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 1.7 percent in June 2026 from 1.8 percent in previous month,” the PSA-Negros Occidental reported.Among the bottom 30 percent income households, inflation rate also decreased to 3.0 percent in June 2026 from 3.4 percent in May 2026 due to the lower growth ra...