Sugar alliance set to
file case vs. BIR
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Sugar Alliance of the Philippines is filing a case against the Bureau of Internal Revenue for imposing a revised revenue regulation that places raw sugar under  Value Added Tax coverage, Manuel Lamata, United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines president, said yesterday.

The sugar federations had decided since last week to jointly file the case against the BIR, to ensure the survival of the sugar industry, especially the small farmers who comprise 90 percent of the industry, Enrique Rojas, National Federation of Sugar Planters president, said.

Imposing VAT on raw sugar will not only affect industry stakeholders but 90 million Filipino consumers of sugar, he said.

STI formally takes
over West Negros
BY ADRIAN NEMES III

Systems Technology Institute Inc. formally took over the management of the 65-year-old West Negros University from the Agustin family at rites held at the WNU gymnasium yesterday.

With the change of management, WNU outgoing president Suzette Agustin was replaced by Monico Jacob, chief executive officer and president of STI Inc., although she was designated as president emeritus of the university.

STI will keep alive the Christian orientation of WNU and commits to continue transforming the lives of students towards excellence, Jacob said. There will also be innovations to put the university at par with high-end technologies of today, he said.

Mayor declares
MassKara open
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

The 20-day celebration of one of the country's highly-anticipated fiestas kicked off yesterday at the Bacolod City Public Plaza with Mayor Monico Puentevella declaring the 2013 MassKara Festival open.

This year's festivities that will run until the 20th, started with a Fun MassKa-Run, Walk and Bike, joined by different schools, the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection, persons with disabilities and the employees of the Bacolod Government Center.

This was followed by a Zumba program and an inter-faith prayer service, led by representatives of the Roman Catholic, Seventh Day Adventist and Muslim groups, also at the plaza.