The president of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry said they hope to conclude the negotiations on the new tax rates early, or before the end of the year.

Frank Carbon said they hope the matter will be resolved during their meeting with the city government on Wednesday or in the next meeting because they do not want to start the year paying the same high rates again.

He said the city government has offered to reduce the rates in the next four years so there will be a difference from what they have already paid this year.

Adopt new technology
to survive, Zubiri urges

Sugar mills must adopt new technology and fully maximize the use of sugarcane now for the country’s industry to survive beyond 2015, senatorial candidate Juan Miguel Zubiri again called yesterday.

“I am really worried about the country’s sugarcane industry,” he said.

Zubiri, who was in Bacolod City for the MassKara Festival, said it has been six years since the Biofuels Act that he authored was passed into law but until now, there are very few facilities with the capability to produce ethanol from sugarcane.

UCPB opens
new branches

The UCPB Savings Bank has launched three initiatives as it continues to develop its service delivery network particularly in areas where large commercial banks are not in operation or those that do not have automated teller machines presence, a press release from the company said.

UCPB Savings Bank, the thrift banking arm of the United Coconut Planters Bank, has unveiled five branches after receiving approval from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

These are in Batac, Ilocos Norte; Lingayen, Pangasinan; Caramoan Island; Catbalogan, Samar; and Metro Cebu, bringing the total current number to 41 UCPB Savings Bank branches, the press release said.