NegOcc LGUs upgrade abattoirs to meet standards

BACOLOD CITY — Local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental are seeking to upgrade their slaughterhouse facilities to meet the Double A (“AA”) classification required by the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS).

These facilities, considered as locally registered meat establishments (LRMEs), are located in 11 cities and nine municipalities and classified under the “A” category since these have not yet acquired NMIS accreditation.

This was reported by the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) as of Tuesday as its Animal Health and Meat Inspection Services Division headed by Dr. Ryan Janoya continues to monitor the operations of various slaughterhouses in the province.

Dr. Sheila Ann Billena, plant manager of Sagay City Abattoir, and Dr. Benzon Jadoc, veterinarian for District II, during a previous inspection of the local government-run slaughterhouse in Sagay City, Negros Occidental.
*File photo from PVO-Negros Occidental*

Currently, Negros Occidental has three slaughterhouses with “AA” accreditation, including the Sagay Abattoir and Meat Processing Plant in Sagay City, Bacolod City Slaughterhouse, and Victorias Foods Corp. in Victorias City.

Janoya said based on their monitoring this month, the Sagay abattoir has boosted its income during the last quarter of 2018. “This is attributed to the expanded operation of the facility starting last September,” he said.

Janoya said the slaughterhouse in Sagay is now catering to more local commercial hog raisers, and making meat products available to areas outside the province like Cebu City.

The abattoir located in northern Negros, which can slaughter 50 to 100 heads per hour, has a cold storage capacity of 50 to 100 tons of pork carcass, poultry, and other meat products.

In the last quarter of last year, the Sagay facility started to market meat products instead of live animals, especially pork.

The provincial government has been promoting the marketing of frozen pork carcass given that it is more beneficial compared to selling live animals.

The selling of pork carcass eliminates loss weight, injuries and mortalities among animals during shipment affecting meat quality, the PVO said.

Slaughterhouses with “AA” classification are those facilities and operational procedures sufficiently adequate that the livestock and fowls slaughtered are suitable for sale in any market, within the country. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059671

GMA visits Silay airport, takes ‘RoRo’ in sentimental journey

BACOLOD CITY — House of Representatives Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo visited the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Negros Occidental during the 11th anniversary of its operations on Friday as part of her “sentimental journey” to her favorite projects in the country.

“Happy anniversary to all of us. I like to say all of us because I’m proud to have been a part of the history of this airport,” the former president said in her message during the morning program.

As then chief executive, Arroyo led the inauguration of the Bacolod-Silay Airport on July 13, 2007 ahead of its formal opening as an airport of international standards on January 18, 2008.

House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo boards a roll-on, roll-off vessel bound for Dumangas, Iloilo at the Bredco port in Bacolod City, after her visit to the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City on Friday (Jan. 18, 2019). Arroyo visited the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Negros Occidental during the 11th anniversary of its operations on Friday as part of her “sentimental journey” to her favorite projects in the country.
*Photo from Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Beat the Odds Facebook page*

Arroyo, who came with her sister-in-law Marilou Arroyo-Lesaca, whom she described as a presumptive congresswoman for running unopposed as representative of the 5th District, was joined by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., Silay City Mayor Mark Golez, Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Stephen Paduano, and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director General Jim Sydiongco during the program.

The House Speaker said she did not actually know there will be a celebration and she visited without knowing about the event.

“I’m already going to leave public office on June 30, and I told my staff, ‘You know, I want to make a sentimental journey to my favorite projects in the Philippines, and among them is the Bacolod-Silay Airport. That’s why I decided to come today,” she said.

“Since there’s no event in Congress or in Metro Manila, I said. ‘Let’s go to Silay. Let us look at how it is doing now, only to find out that today is your anniversary. So, the Lord wanted me to be part of this anniversary,” she added.

Arroyo recalled the resistance of some sectors to the transfer of the airport from Bacolod to Silay, but she noted the opening of the new airport has brought so much benefits to the province, particularly on tourism.

“Congratulations, for being the second most-visited by domestic tourists,” she said of Negros Occidental, adding that the province has also become attractive to more foreign visitors and investors.

After visiting the Bacolod-Silay Airport and passing through the 10-km. airport access road, the House Speaker proceeded to the Bredco port in Bacolod to take the Bacolod-Dumangas route going to Iloilo on board a roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessel.

“From here, we will be going on another sentimental journey, to take the RoRo, which was also our project,” she said.

The Bacolod-Dumangas route started in 2005 as part of Arroyo’s “Strong Republic Nautical Highway” program to ensure fast and economical movement of goods and people, and to boost domestic tourism and trade.

“That will be another sentimental journey because to me, the most important infrastructures in the Visayas are roads, airports, and RoRo (ports),” she added. (PNA)

Peaceful environment draws investors to NegOcc: guv

BACOLOD CITY — The peaceful environment of Negros Occidental attracts investors, Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said on Thursday.

“There are so many investors coming because we are a peace-loving province. Here, their investments are assured. We have a peaceful place to invest in,” he said in his message during the New Year’s call of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) personnel held at the Social Hall of the Provincial Capitol here.

The governor, who welcomed the group led by newly-appointed officer-in-charge, Senior Supt. Romeo Baleros, lauded the provincial police force for their efforts in maintaining the peace and order.

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. (seated, 2^nd from right) with Senior Supt. Romeo Baleros (2^nd from left), provincial police officer-in-charge; Supt. Adrian Acollador, deputy provincial director for administration; and National Police Commission provincial director Mae Diamante, during the New Year’s call of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office personnel held at the Social Hall of the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on Thursday (Jan. 17,2019).
*Photo courtesy of Negros Occidental Capitol PIO*

“Allow me to thank each and every one of you, on behalf of the province, for a job well done. Our beloved province of Negros Occidental compared to other provinces is relatively peaceful. We don’t have much crime because of your efforts,” he added.

The governor, however, said the police should not rest on their laurels.

“We would like to achieve more, exceed what we have done last year,” he said.

Marañon pointed out that Negros Occidental already has diversified industries and no longer relies solely on the sugar industry as a monocrop economy.

“Our province’s economy is taking off. We have an improved economic situation. There should be no hindrance to that,” he said.
“Lots of investors are coming here, almost every week and there will be more coming. Let us help each to make this province more peaceful,” the governor added.

For his part, Baleros said they are paying a call on the highest official of the province to show the support and commitment of the police to assist the provincial government.

“Our New Year’s call to Governor Marañon is a manifestation of our continued support in providing his constituents a peaceful and tranquil place to live in,” he said.

Baleros added that the NOCPPO, being an implementing arm of the government in enforcing the law, will “always coordinate, collaborate, cooperate and work under the direction of our governor to attain his aspiration for the good of the Negrosanons.”

“We look forward to our mutual cooperation in keeping Negros Occidental safe and peaceful,” he added. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059279

NegOcc vet office collects P10.9-M in revenues

BACOLOD CITY — The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) in Negros Occidental collected a total of PHP10.9 million in revenues in 2018, which is 6.7 percent higher than the PHP10.2 million in the previous year.

The PVO’s earnings came from farm income and collection of laboratory and veterinary fees.

Dr. Renante Decena, provincial veterinarian, said on Wednesday the increase can be attributed to the effective implementation of Provincial Tax Ordinance No. 2017-001.

A client applies for a veterinary health certificate required for animal shipment at the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) in Bacolod City.
*Photo courtesy of PVO-Negros Occidental*

He noted that they have strengthened the implementation of its provisions, particularly on information dissemination and delivery of technical services among commercial farm owners and backyard gamefowl farms.

“We have been campaigning for them to register their farms,” he said.

Decena added that the higher income also reflects the interest of stakeholders to avail of the PVO’s services.

Reports of the PVO showed that regulatory services, including veterinary health certificate issuance, livestock and gamefowl registration, and traders’ license application mostly contributed to the revenues, totaling almost PHP7.2 million.

Income generated from farms and sale of various products reached about PHP3.5 million while collections from laboratory services and dairy training fees totaled PHP222,424 and PHP50,060, respectively.

Decena said this year, the PVO targets to increase its collection by improving its products and services. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059105

More road networks needed in west Visayas: DOT exec

BACOLOD CITY — More road networks should be established in Western Visayas to boost the region’s tourism industry, a Department of Tourism (DOT) official has said.

DOT-6 Regional Director Helen Catalbas said in a statement on Tuesday there were 168 proposed tourism road projects in Western Visayas last year.

Of which, 79 projects totaling PHP2.48 billion were included in the 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA). A total of PHP520 million worth of projects are in Negros Occidental, including one amounting to PHP90 million in Bacolod City.

“These road projects make more tourism destinations accessible to tourists and provide livelihood in the community,” Catalbas said.

As tourism facilities begin to emerge with the influx of tourists, the DOT has recognized that strong road networks often lead to better economy, she added.

Catalbas said air, land and sea connectivity is one of the competitive advantages of Western Visayas, adding that micro, small and medium enterprises are also getting a boost from investments pouring in.

“The strengthened linkage of Western Visayas to more major hubs in the Philippines made the region accessible to more domestic and foreign tourists,” she added.

In 2017, tourist arrivals in Western Visayas reached 5.8 million, with tourism receipts, or amount of spending, worth PHP128.45 billion.

This coming Jan. 29, the DOT-Department of Public Works and Highways Convergence Program on Tourism Road Infrastructure Projects (TRIP) will hold a regional consultative workshop in Iloilo City.

During the activity, the previous year’s accomplishments and updates on pending and upcoming projects will be presented.

For 2019, there are 142 proposed road projects from different legislative districts in the region.

In Negros Occidental alone, there are 11 projects funded under the last year’s GAA and will be included in the assessment.

These are comprised mostly of construction, rehabilitation and upgrading of roads in the cities of Talisay, Cadiz, Sagay, Kabankalan and Sipalay, and town of Binalbagan with an initial appropriation of PHP420 million. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059077

Negrenses urged to report sightings of Irrawaddy dolphin

BACOLOD CITY — Residents of Negros Occidental were encouraged to report sightings of the Irrawaddy dolphin to protect the population of the endangered species.

The call was made by the Center for Research and Engagement of the University of Saint La Salle-Bacolod after a dead pregnant Irrawaddy dolphin was found at the mangrove area of Barangay Sampinit in Bago City earlier this month.

Research associate Mark de la Paz, whose team examined the animal, said in an interview on Tuesday that they suspect the dolphin, which measured about two meters, was about to give birth.

The decomposing pregnant Irrawaddy dolphin found in the mangrove area of Barangay Sampinit in Bago City, Negros Occidental last January 13.
*Photo courtesy of Danilo Pahilanga*

De la Paz said they found a wound on the animal’s body, with its ribs cage broken.

“The dolphin was possibly hit by a boat or a hard object,” he added.

The initial sighting of the floating dead dolphin was reported by a resident on Jan. 3, but when the locals tried to check on its presence, they could no longer find its carcass.

Members of Barangay Katungdan, a group of volunteers for mangrove protection, again received reports on its sighting on the morning of January 13.

De la Paz said the animal’s carcass was already in the advanced state of decomposition when found in the mangrove area.

Irrawaddy dolphins — considered critically endangered in Negros Occidental — inhabit the waters of Bago City and Pulupandan town.

De la Paz’s group called on fishermen to slow down their boats during fishing activities to avoid hitting the dolphins. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059057

Registered business enterprises in NegOcc up by 17%

BACOLOD CITY — The total registered businesses in Negros Occidental increased by almost 17 percent in 2018, records of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have showed.

Last year, there were 12,536 business names registered, from only 10,706 in 2017.

In 2018, the total number of registered businesses included 10,894 new enterprises and 1,642 renewals. In 2016, the list of registration included 7,562 enterprises.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Occidental, through the Negosyo Center in Bacolod City, accepts clients applying for business name registrations.
*Photo courtesy of Engiemar Tupas/DTI-Negros Occidental*

Engiemar Tupas, senior trade and industry development specialist of DTI-Negros Occidental, said on Tuesday the increase in business registration can be mainly attributed to the establishment of Negosyo Centers in the province.

Since 2015, a total of 23 Negosyo Centers have been established in Negros Occidental.

These facilities are providing business name registration services aside from delivering entrepreneurial and business development interventions to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Tupas said enterprise owners in some localities no longer need to go to the DTI provincial office in Bacolod to process their business name registration.

They can now do it through the Negosyo Centers nearest them, he added.

“Negosyo Centers have enabled the agency to bring its services closer to the people especially the MSMEs,” Tupas said.

The establishment of Negosyo Centers is provided under Republic Act 10644, or the Go Negosyo Act, to provide MSMEs the ease of doing business and facilitate access to grants and other forms of financial assistance, and shared service facilities, among others.

Tupas said the province’s growing economy and its business-enabling environment are driving up the creation of more enterprises.

“In effect, more enterprises result in generation of more employment in the province,” he added.

The DTI collects a registration fee of PHP215 from businesses within the barangays, and PHP515 for those in the cities and municipalities.

The fee is PHP1,015 for regional businesses, and PHP2,015 for those national in scope.

“Registrants are urged to register first with the DTI before proceeding to the Bureau of Internal Revenue and local government unit in processing their mayor’s permit,” Tupas said. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1058920

NegOcc farmers get P87-M in crop insurance claims

BACOLOD CITY — A total of 18,005 enrolled rice and corn farmers in Negros Occidental received indemnity claims from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) amounting to almost PHP87 million in 2018.

Jose Ma. Torres, head of PCIC-Negros Occidental Provincial Extension Office, said the claims were paid through the government’s various insurance programs.

These include the Negros First Universal Crop Insurance Program (NFUCIP), Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBSA), Agrarian Production Credit Program (APCP), Sikat Saka Program (SSP), and similar initiatives.

Figures of PCIC-Negros Occidental showed that in 2018, almost PHP85.9 million were paid to 17,627 rice farmers covering an area of 17,788.13 hectares while PHP1.327 million went to 378 farmers with areas totaling 324.96 hectares.

The NFUCIP is being implemented by the PCIC in partnership with the provincial government of Negros Occidental through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA).

Other programs are carried out through partner-agencies, such as RSBSA, which is under the Department of Budget and Management.

Torres said these do not include insurance lines for livestock, fishery, and credit and life-term insurance.

“We will continue to implement these programs as funds are available to cover more farmers,” he said.

He noted that many farmers in Negros Occidental are still not covered, including those in areas considered “difficult” to reach.

Torres said the PCIC has been stepping up measures to raise awareness about its programs by partnering with local government units.

Insurance programs are vital as these enable farmers to recover from possible losses brought by calamities and other factors, he added. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1058491

Negros producers group renews commitment to MSMEs, communities

BACOLOD CITY — The Association of Negros Producers (ANP), under its new set of officials, renewed its commitment to support local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and the communities they work with.

On Wednesday, the ANP announced that Christina Marie Gaston, its former president, has been named chairperson of the Board of Trustees.

Arlene Infante, owner of Azatri Souvenirs Inc. and ANP member since 1993, has been elected president.

The association said in a statement the new Board of Trustees is equipped with a range of skills and experience necessary for strategic governance of ANP.

They share the commitment to achieve the goals and objectives and contribute through their involvement with board meetings, events, and special projects, it added.

As a non-government organization, the ANP continues to support local MSMEs and the communities they work with, the association added.

This is being done through the provision of various platforms where they can advertise, sell their products, and expand their markets, among others, the ANP said.

Other officers include Maria Antoinette Theodora Colmenares — vice president for advocacy; Elsie Gonzaga — vice president for membership; Elfrena Gonzaga — corporate secretary and treasurer; and Eva Pauline Marie Si — vice president for sales and marketing.

Heads for the various sectors and industries are: Ruby Gealon for fashion accessories and garments; Catherine Mary Manaloto for food; Michael Edward Claparols for gifts, decor, housewares (GDH) and furniture; Elizabeth Mondejar for natural organic and agriculture; and Florante Lamentac for tourism.

The ANP membership is categorized into three — Member A, Member B, and Member C.

Those under “A” are comprised of member-producers who display their products at the Negros Showroom and who are also entitled to join fairs, and other ANP promotional retail initiatives.

Those under “B” include member-producers who join trade fairs and bazaars only, and those under “C” are member-producers who are agricultural; who belong to affiliations; or are service-oriented. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1058507

NegOcc fishery industry seen to get boost thru USAID partnership

BACOLOD CITY — The fishery industry of Negros Occidental is seen to get a boost through the partnership of the academe and the business sector with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Frank Carbon, chief executive officer of Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), said Monday the possible collaboration will cover the seas in the southern part of the province facing Hinoba-an, Sipalay City, and Cauayan, which are abundant in high-value fish products, such as tuna.

Blue swimming crabs are also found in the Visayan Sea, particularly the areas from Talisay City to Escalante City in Negros Occidental, he added.

Carbon said they expect to complete all the discussions this January and sign the contracts in February.

“The project may take off in March. This is going to have a huge impact on the province economy-wise, poverty reduction, and in ensuring sustainability of marine resources for future generations,” the local business leader said.

Carbon said USAID has tapped the Silliman University in Dumaguete City and the University of the Philippines-Visayas in Iloilo City for a program to develop the Visayan Sea and southern Negros seas, respectively.

“We will convince them that the collaboration, particularly for the Visayan Sea, should focus on the Negros blue swimming crabs as this is a billion-peso industry,” he added.

Citing the data of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the MBCCI noted that the blue crab industry in Negros amounted to PHP8 billion in 2016.

As the fourth largest export industry in the Philippines, 30 percent of the blue crab production comes from the Visayan Sea, particularly the northern part of Negros, it added.

Carbon said Silliman University, which is in charge of the development of the land side, specifically in Negros Occidental, has tapped their group for collaboration.

“The MBCCI understands more the market side, like how the products will be processed, marketed, and how to look for capital. Thus, this is where the business sector will come in,” he added.

Carbon said USAID’s concern is the sea side, or the water side.

They want to improve, rehabilitate, preserve and protect biodiversity mainly through research initiatives with the academe, he added.

“After improving the catch, there should be value-adding process, like cooking, picking and canning,” Carbon said. “The whole idea of this collaboration is improving the catch, adding value to the catch so that we will create more jobs.”

The ultimate outcome of the collaboration is poverty reduction, especially among the shoreline barangays and communities where 60 percent of the population is located, he added. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1058244