• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The weeklong Panaad sa Negros Festival sales this year, from April 15 to April 21, dropped by 20 percent compared to last year’s sales, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Monday.
From last year’s P23,663,642.86, this year’s sales reached P19,250,439.50, 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 at 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. | GB
