Business

Jun72021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

40 OFWs get assistance

Capitol photoThe Overseas Workers Welfare Administration distributed P800,0000 to 40 migrant workers in Negros Occidental Monday, June 7, Rizza Joy Moldes, OWWA Region 6 officer-in-charge, said.She said 29 overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) were given P20,000 each under the Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay Program and 11 others received P20,000 each under the Sa Pinas Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir Program.The OFWs also received gift packs from OWWA and the Voice of the Free Foundation during the 2021 Migrant Workers Day celebration held at the Negros Occidental Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City.“Our OFWs range from health workers to service providers all over the world; the Filipino migrant workers have become worldwide frontliners in this pandemic,” Lacson said during the Migrant Wor...

Jun72021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

DOTs secretary to join launching of VTI Automated Fare Collection

Business, Top Stories

Vallacar Transit Inc. will launch its first Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS) at the Ceres Liner North Terminal in Brgy. Bata, Bacolod City, on June 14.The pilot route for the AFCS will be Bacolod to Victorias. The collection system is a cashless, contactless, and efficient way of collecting fares from the passengers, a VTI press release said.DOTr Secretary, Arthur Tugade, DOTr Assistant Secretary, Mark Steven Pastor, LTFRB Chairman, Martin Delgra and Regional Director Richard Osmeña will join the launching.According to the DOTr, the Automated Fare Collection System aims to improve urban public transportation by providing a payment option to the riding public. This program is created to ensure interoperability and mutual trust among the passengers and the transportation c...

Jun42021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

‘New law gives workers boost vs. unscrupulous employers’

Business, Top Stories

Roland de la Cruz, National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines president, said Friday, June 4, that Republic Act 11551, also known as the Labor Education Act will boost workers protection against unscrupulous employers.President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed Republic Act 11551, on May 27 that will provide protection for workers through education, de la Cruz, who is also a labor representative to the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council, said.The law recognizes the need for the state to put in place a mechanism to educate future workers, employers, and entrepreneurs on their rights and responsibilities in promoting harmony in the workplace and social progress in society, de la Cruz said.The implementing rules and regulations will be developed by the...

Jun32021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

House approves bill creating online platform for farmers

Business, Top Stories

The House of Representatives approved a bill creating online platforms for farmers on third and final reading Wednesday, June 2.House Bill 9205 co-authored by Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Negros Occidental, 3rd District) mandates municipalities and cities to establish an Agriculture Information System (AIS).Farmers will be registered in the AIS and the local agriculture office will help them input information about their harvest and produce, Benitez said.This online platform will link farmers with potential buyers, he added.*

May312021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Negros Trade Fair sales hit P780K in three days

Business, Top Stories

The 35th Negros Trade Fair (NTF) sales hit P780,000 on its third day Monday, May 31, MaryAnn Colmenares, Association of Negros Producers vice president for advocacy, said.Of the total sales P720,000 were made online, we are very happy with the public’s response, Michael Claparols, NTF chairman, said.The 35th edition was cancelled in 2020 due to pandemic, but the NTF is back and has gone online starting Saturday, May 29, and will run until to June 30, Colmenares said.One can shop for Negrense products at shopnegrostradefair.com, she said.The response has been very good with everything going online amid the pandemic, she said.Among the products on sale at the ongoing trade fair are organic food, Negrense delicacies, garments, fashion accessories, furniture, décor, and hou...

May262021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

SSS releases more than P 3.07-B funeral benefits in 2020

Business

The Social Security System (SSS) has disbursed P3.07 billion worth of funeral benefits to over 135,600 beneficiaries in 2020.Over the years, SSS recorded P3.58 billion to 163,589 members in 2016; P3.79 billion to 170,358 members in 2017; P3.91 billion to 175,024 members in 2018; and P4.23 billion in 2019 to 186,730 members.SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora C. Ignacio said that the 27 percent drop in funeral benefit disbursements was due to the nationwide implementation of community quarantine since March 2020, which prohibits movements of transacting members to various government offices, including SSS.“Since COVID-19 has been a global health pandemic, precautionary measures are strictly being implemented in our branches such as wearing of face masks, face shield...

May262021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

NEDA, DOT heads invited to Philsutech 67th convention

Business

The Philippine Sugar Technologists Associations Inc. (PHILSUTECH) will hold the 67th Philsutech Annual National Convention with the theme “Sugarcane Industry: Braving through the Challenges of Times” virtually in Bacolod City, August 25-27.Traditionally, more than 1,000 sugarcane industry stakeholdersfrom the Philippines and from other sugarcane-producing countries regularly attend the event, a press release from PHILSUTECH said.Sugar millers, ethanol distillers, biopower generators, farmers, traders and suppliers convene to exchange innovative ideas and the latest technological advances in the sugarcane industry.Product exhibitors for agricultural and industrial equipment and technologies also showcase their latest offerings during the event.“Considering the existing pande...

May242021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Himamaylan abaca growers get water system project

Business

Capitol photoThe Himamaylan City Abaca Growers Association (HICAGFA) received a water system project under the Upland Ecosystem Management Program of the Provincial Environment Management Office.Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson led the turnover of the project at the Capitol Grounds Monday morning, May 24, that includes 32 drums and 50 rolls of water hoses, which are the primary materials needed for the association’s farming needs.Last year, the association already initiated growing bamboos, with a total of 2,000 bamboo culm, a press release from the Capitol said.HICAGFA is an upland association located in Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City.*

May242021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Free food safety webinar set

Business

The first of a series of free webinars with the title “Food Safety Talks: Safe Food Saves Lives” will be held via Zoom 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 26, Doreen Alicia “Reena” Gamboa, Association of Negros Producers - Foundation for Enterprise Development Inc. (AFEDI) president, said.“In these times when safety is a top priority, we must also look into how we can keep our food safe – not only for food at home but, more importantly, for those of us who are involved in the food industry,” she said.There is a need to learn more about how to maintain the highest standards of food safety by listening to the experts, she said, that is why AFEDI in cooperation with the province of Negros Occidental is presenting a series of talks and videos to tackle the subject.The first guest speaker a...

May232021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Group continues war vs. Ceneco’s alleged over contracting

Business

Ceneco photoConsumer group Power Watch Negros is continuing its war against the alleged over contracting by the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) in its proposed extension of its power sales contract with the Kepco Salcon Power Corp. (KSPC), its lead convenor Wennie Sancho said Sunday, May 23.“We challenge the Ceneco Board to sign an undertaking stating that there will no over contracting in the proposed short term 40MW PSA with KSPC and that there will no huge trading losses as a result of ‘sell-back’ to the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market,” he said.Power Watch vows to oppose and expose the evils of over contracting, he said.Meanwhile, he said, they have passed resolution condemning the rejection of the memorandum of understanding between Power Watch and CENEC...