• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The sales of the weeklong Panaad sa Negros Festival this year, which ran from April 15 to April 21, dropped by 20 percent compared to 2023, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson reported yesterday.
Sales reduced from P23,663,642.86 in 2023, to P19,250,439.50 this year, records from the festival secretariat showed.
Based on his initial talks with Frank Carbon, chief executive officer of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Lacson said he was told that the purchasing power of Negrenses, especially the middle class, has gone down.
The LGU Pavilions remained on top of the sales tally with P11,808,939.80, followed by San Miguel and Garden Show at P4,461,985.20, Food Alley – P1,703.403.50, Provincial Veterinarian Office – P870,230, Trade Fair MUAD – P264,550, and Office of the Provincial Agriculturist – P141,331, records from the festival secretariat showed.
While the events were well attended, Lacson said the festival goers did not buy as much, compared to last year.
As a whole, I think it was successful, the governor said, adding that they have received a lot of congratulations.
In his speech at the closing of the Panaad sa Negros festival on Sunday, Lacson declared that the expectations in staging the festivities has not only been met, but even exceeded.
But he said they will try to make the Panaad sa Negros even better next year.*
