BEAUTIES. MassKara Queen 2014 candidates Christine Joy Madamba, Raxel Ann Gonzales, Jian Tsukada, Sheen Liberty Cuenza, Melresa Tiu, Sweetzel Lima, Kristine Kaye Necir, Riah Angelica De Ocampo, Maria Danielle Diaz, Cate Antoinette Pirote, and Arriana Demi Montealegre (l-r) during the swimwear competition at the poolside of L’Fisher Chalet in Bacolod City Saturday.* (Andy Alvarez photo)Trade fair sales P17M
BY CARLA GOMEZ
MAKATI CITY - The five-day 29th Negros Trade Fair at the Glorietta Activity Center here ended yesterday with sales hitting P17,186,960, chairman MaryAnn Colmenares of the Association of Negros Producers said yesterday.
The sales from last year’s Negros Trade Fair at the same venue was P13.5 million, she said.
Colmenares said 65 small and medium enterprises from Negros joined the fair and the five top earners were the Negrense Volunteers for Change, Tumandok Crafts, Inasalan sa Dalan, Virgies, and Ines Monda Infantil. 
RDC backs airport expansion
BY GILBERT BAYORAN
The expansion of the Bacolod Silay Airport, estimated at P20 billion, was endorsed by the Regional Development Council 6, which is now chaired by Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. during its third quarter meeting on Friday in Iloilo City.
The RDC 6, in a resolution it approved, said the expansion of the Bacolod Silay airport, which is the eighth busiest airport in the country, although it caters only domestic flights, will ensure its sustainable development .
After consultations with different airline companies, the RDC 6 said it expects that the airport will be able to accommodate international flights within five years, considering its very high business travel and tourism potentials.
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IN NEG. OR.
EDC offers to drop
rates of electricity
BY ALEX PAL
The Energy Development Corporation has offered to lower the electric rates of the two Negros Oriental Electric Cooperatives starting October, after the fluctuating price of coal-generated power offered by competitors.
Richard Tantoco, EDC president and chief operating officer, told power stakeholders of Negros Oriental in Friday’s Energy Summit at Bethel Guest House that their offer is in line with their desire to be a “good neighbor” to Negros Oriental consumers.
“Our promise to Negros Oriental consumers is that they will not be able to find a cheaper source of power from what we offer,” Tantoco said. The two Negros Oriental electric cooperatives are also buying power from a coal-fired plant in Cebu at a price of P5.51 per kilowatt hour.