Negros Business Directory
Negros Island is the fourth largest islands in the Philippines that is strategically located in the Visayas region lying near the central part of the country. It is divided into two provinces, namely Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, which division roughly follows the range of mountains that lies in the centre of the island. Culturally, the people in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental speak different dialects. The former is predominantly a Hiligaynon-speaking province, while the latter is Cebuano-speaking.
Both provinces enjoy a generally pleasant climate, fertile land resources and marine resources. Their combined annual GNP/GDP constitutes a significant portion of the country's total annual income, and they also enjoy quite high employment rate which averages at about 90% for the last eight years (note: this data was derived from NSO's statistics). Thanks to the diversification of agriculture, upsurge in tourism and the growing number of businesses opening in the island, particularly BPO companies, the economy of Negros is currently experiencing a slow, but positive turn-around that promises a bright future for the Negrenses.
welcome to paradise
The Negros Island is an excellent investment location because it has high literacy rate and has a pool of skilled workers. It is also a great place to settle and live at because of its beautiful landscapes, fun and peace-loving people, and colourful culture. The major cities of the oriental and occidental Negros, namely Dumaguete and Bacolod, offers both the excitement of the city life and the luxury of technology that one can experience in the metropolis of Cebu and Manila. However, unlike the latter, Negros cities are spared from heavy traffic and pollution, and have the lowest crime rate among the big cities in Philippines.
These are just some of the reasons that made Negros a great place; there are more to Negros than being the country's biggest sugar source. If you are interested to know more about this island paradise, we offer you here information on its businesses and industries, including the agriculture, mining, transportation and telecommunication sectors.
Planning a trip — whether for business or for leisure — can be tricky. One does not often know how to organise his or her itinerary to make the most out of the given time. One of the best ways to lighten this dilemma is to do diligent research. You can easily do this through the Internet.
If you are planning a trip to Negros Oriental and/or Negros Occidental, then it would be best to visit websites that give you a lot necessary information. Websites like Negrenses-Biz.Com can give you a lot of data and tips. Such sites are primarily directed toward business trips. Negrense industries are discussed well in this site, giving you an idea of where to go. This site also serves as a detailed online directory for services you might need during your business trip. However, we also have pages regarding Negros’ tourist spots.
The good thing about Negros is that many industrial or business sites are, in themselves, tourist attractions as well. So, if your focus is on mining, sugar, BPO (business process outsourcing), telecommunications or education, you will not miss out on attractive natural wonders while doing serious work. On the other hand, you might be coming here on a business negotiation or proposal involving the tourism industry. This will give you an opportunity to tour the island.
Aside from finding websites that give reviews and directory listings, you can check out travel forums, too. These can give you personal accounts from people who have come to Negros for business and/or leisure trips. The advantage of forums is the transparency and candidness that you will get from first-hand testimonials.
For foreigners who are thinking of investing in Negros, this section provides you with an introduction to the Philippine Peso. The peso is the country’s currency. One peso is divided into a hundred centavos. Coins are available for the values of 5, 10 and 25 cents. There are bills for 25, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 pesos. As of mid August 2009, a single peso was equivalent to 0.013 British Pounds, 0.015 Euros and 0.021 US Dollars. Conversely, as of the same period, one pound was equivalent to 79 pesos; one Euro fetched 68 pesos; and one US dollar equalled 48 pesos.
There are various banks in developed Negrense cities like Bacolod and Dumaguete. However, you need to find a bank that does accept international transactions. You should also ask, before dining or shopping in an establishment, if it accepts credit card payments. This is especially true in areas that are not highly urbanised.
One of the biggest costs that investing in the Philippines entails is the amount that you have to spend on government agencies. For example, if you will be putting up a business, then you will have to pay a lot on evaluation or inspection costs, registration expenses and permit fees.
The cost of living in the province of Negros is not as high as that of Metro Manila. This means that the province also requires a lower capital and offers a lower cost for running a business. Still, rates may vary depending on the city or town you choose. Before pursuing your investment, it would be best to inquire about local rates for electricity, water supply, telephone lines, Internet connection and office space rental. It would be best to consult a Filipino lawyer about business taxes and tax exemptions.
Going on a business trip means planning a lot of details and jamming several activities into a few days. It entails remembering things that need to be done and appointments that need to be fulfilled. It involves places you have never been to before, as well as people whom you have never met. So, it is important to have the tools that can help you not just to get organised before you leave, but also to stay organised as you go about every aspect of your trip. It is also necessary to have a sufficient means of communication.
A PDA or a small laptop would be essential in keeping up with your busy schedule. You would need it for all the necessary contact details. This includes office telephone numbers, mobile phone numbers, office addresses and e-mail addresses of potential business partners, suppliers and other people with whom you will be meeting. If you need to visit local government offices, then be sure to keep contact info regarding these agencies, too.
A PDA or small laptop will also be very useful in detailing the tasks that you need to accomplish. There are several types of software that allow you to list down your tasks according to priority. They give you the option of letting your PDA or laptop sound an alarm to remind you of an upcoming appointment. With these gadgets, you can download a detailed map to guide you as you navigate Negros.
Foreigners coming to Negros also need to make sure that they get their mobile phones unlocked. They must also have the global roaming feature of their phones activated. This is because they will badly need to contact people during their trip. So, getting a local SIM card would be a great idea.
How does one begin to describe the tourist attractions of Negros? The diverse forms of beauty, both natural and cultural, that can be found in Negros cannot be sufficiently described in words, let alone encompassed in a little article. Still, we shall try to introduce you to these wonders.
Apo Island is famous all over the world as one of the richest diving spots and best-managed reefs in the Philippines. This 74-hectare area is actually a volcanic island. It consistently ranks as among the top 100 diving spots in the world, with at least 400 coral varieties and over 600 fish species. Indeed, no trip to Negros Oriental is complete without visiting Apo’s waters.
Mambukal is the name of a mountain resort in Negros Occidental. It is home to seven waterfalls and plenty of naturally occurring, hot, therapeutic sulphur springs. In the midst of all this flows a mountain stream, where one can swim around or ride a boat. On both sides, the stream is flanked by lush tropical vegetation and interesting rock formations. Mambukal is also the gateway to Mt. Kanlaon, a favourite hunt for mountaineers. Kanlaon is actually a volcano. It boasts of several springs, craters and a crater lake.
Aside from Mt. Kanlaon, one can get a wonderful trekking opportunity on the rough and steep path to Casororo Falls, which is the most photographed waterfall in the area. The water gathers at a very cold basin, which is surrounded by gazebos for picnics.
Do check out Silay City, too, which is one of the two museum cities in the Philippines. Grand old mansions are reminiscent of the heavy Spanish colonial influence in the province. These perfectly preserved homes, plus an active arts scene, have earned the city the title of “Paris of Negros.”
In Negros, nature is a gift that lies untarnished. This fact is not relegated to tourist spots or to designated areas for preservation. Even within the homes of the Negrense people, nature takes centre stage. Its beauty is put on display instead of swept aside.
This love for greenery and earthy materials is evident in the handicrafts and furniture that the locals produce. Their designs and colours are inspired by the vegetation that the province is graced with. Such materials allow Negrense furniture and crafts to be sturdy, durable and weather-resistant. They lend a natural charm to any living space.
The coconut palm is one of the trees that provide materials to furniture manufacturers and décor makers in Negros. No tree is actually cut down. What many manufacturers utilise is the hard shell of young coconut fruits. While people scrape off the hard, white meat for salads and desserts and pour out the liquid for juice, manufacturers use the discarded shells. The shells are cleaned, dried and cut into pieces of desired sizes, which are then used as inlay materials.
The banana tree also provides elegance to house ware and furniture pieces. Again, no tree is chopped down in the process. Manufacturers are after the outer layers of this tree’s trunk. These layers are peeled off, and the dry pulp is stripped and dried in order to create a rich inlay material.
Aside from inlay purposes, there are also plants that are used for the main frame or body of furnishings. A common example is the bamboo tree. Bamboo wood is versatile and study. It can be used for making houses and is wonderful for outdoor furniture. Bamboo is abundant in tropical countries, which explains its popularity in the Philippines.
