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- Confed backs no allocation for sugar quota 2021
- Sugar leader lauds order to allocate all production for domestic market
- 2 insurgency-cleared barangays in San Carlos get livelihood project
| Confed backs no allocation for sugar quota 2021 Posted: 01 Sep 2021 07:29 AM PDT THE Confederation of Sugar Producers (Confed) backs Sugar Order No. 1 of the Sugar Regulatory Board, which allocates the coming sugar crop to "All B" (domestic) as proposed. Confed and other federations pushed for the proposal which means no allocation for the US quota in 2021, Raymond Montinola, president of Confed, said in a statement. This move, according to the Montinola, is highly appreciated as it will help sugar producers meet the rising costs of production and cope with the effects of a "back to back" La Niña. He said production has dropped over the last four years due to adverse weather aside from a reduction in planted area. Efforts to improve productivity are being undertaken by the industry, but challenges remain. Montinola noted the increasing prices of fertilizers, fuel and equipment maintenance, plus labor and other production costs. Confed is supportive of the review of the Sugarcane Industry Road Map, which is ongoing and will likely point to the need for soil amelioration, better cultural practices, farm mechanization, increased use of high-yielding varieties, and more intensive extension services especially to small planters and block farms. Confed is also calling for more efficient and effective use of the Sugar Industry Development Act fund allocations and urges all stakeholders to pursue productivity improvement measures with more vigor, in concert with Sugar Regulatory Administration, Directory of Mill District Development Council, Philippine Sugar Millers Association and Philippine Sugar Research Institute. At the same time, Confed said the industry should not forget the labor sector and continue to support its socio-economic development arms such as the Sugar Industry Foundation, Inc. and other sugar industry foundations that provide education, livelihood and skills development opportunities for farm and mill workers' families. Montinola also appealed for local governments and planters to address the possible emergence of malnutrition and health-related problems among children of farmworkers, especially those of school age in these trying times. We all need to focus our collective efforts on keeping the industry viable and beneficial for all its stakeholders. "We hope that the proposed Sugar Industry Development Council will provide the venue needed for a united, industry-wide effort," Montinola said.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Sugar leader lauds order to allocate all production for domestic market Posted: 01 Sep 2021 07:29 AM PDT THE top official of the United Sugar Producers Federation (Unifed) has lauded the Sugar Board for hearing the group's call for a 100-percent "B" sugar allocation for this crop year or purely for the domestic market. Unifed President Manuel Lamata said they are thankful that the Board is prioritizing the local market considering that there is also a drop in the projected sugar output for this milling season. On Tuesday, August 31, the Board issued Sugar Order (SO) No. 1, outlining the production allocation policy for the current crop year, which will be all "B" or domestic sugar. This, after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) announced the reemergence of the La Niña phenomenon in the country. La Niña will coincide with the harvest and peak milling season of sugarcanes in key production areas, the state weather bureau said. Unifed was the first group to call for the scrapping of "A" sugar with Lamata saying that "there is no point to allocate A sugar when we will also import the differential to satisfy the local needs." It urged Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to scrap the "A" sugar, or the US sugar quota, in the coming crop year if the supply is just enough for the country's consumption. The federation agreed to a seven percent allocation of "A" sugar last year. Lamata, however, said the farmers were short-changed because the differential given was only P100 instead of the expected P400. "In other words, somebody made money, but it was not the farmers," he added. Scrapping the "A" sugar has been done in the past when the country's sugar production did not meet local demands. "It has been done, and we are asking the SRA to do it again and prioritize the local market," the Unifed official earlier said.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 2 insurgency-cleared barangays in San Carlos get livelihood project Posted: 01 Sep 2021 07:16 AM PDT THE Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, along with the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental and City Government of San Carlos, has launched the "Vamos sa Barangay Buluangan at Guadalupe para sa Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran" project in two insurgency-cleared barangays in the city. Under the project, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority will be conducting training on Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Smaw) NC I for 50 city residents. Twenty-five of them are from Barangay Buluangan and the 25 others are from Barangay Guadalupe. Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who led the launching activity in Barangay Buluangan Covered Court recently, assured the province's commitment to peace and poverty reduction. He said the provincial government will provide the necessary support for the achievement of the goal of the cluster. The governor was joined by Tesda Acting Provincial Director Romelia Nuezca, San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo and First District Representative Gerardo Valmayor. Gustilo, in his message, said he personally requested from the agency the welding course for the two barangays. This is in preparation for the establishment of shipyard and dry dock in Sitio Katingal-an in Barangay Buluangan, "which will surely create more job opportunities for skilled workers," he added. The mayor thanked Tesda for providing two batches of training on Smaw NC I, adding that he will continue to support the programs and services of the agency and PRLEC. Valmayor, for its part, urged the beneficiaries to make use of their training to rise from poverty. "After undergoing Smaw NC I, they should continue with NC II to further enhance their welding skills," he said. Tesda-Western Visayas Regional Director Jerry Tizon, in a video message, said the launching is a testament that the government continues to work on "achieving inclusive and lasting peace that we have been fighting for decades." "Executive Order No. 70 is one of the biggest game-changers when it comes to peace agenda in the country," he said, adding that "it is time to end the decade-long problem of insurgency in the country." The official stressed, "It is time for every Filipino citizen to unite." Moreover, Nuezca said the training will be implemented under the agency's Special Training for Employment Program (Step) scholarship. Beneficiaries of the program will receive free training, free competency assessment, free entrepreneurship training, one-year accident insurance, internet allowance, health and personal protective equipment allowance, and training support fund and allowance of P160 per day. Beneficiaries will also be given starter toolkits to further assist them in finding jobs or starting their own business, she added. Other partners in implementing the program included the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Education, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior and Local Government, Northern Negros Electric Cooperative, Cooperative Development Authority, Philippine Information Agency, Department of Agrarian Reform, Philippine National Police, and 79th Infantry Battalion Philippine Army. Officials and representatives of local and national government offices also signed the pledge of support and commitment to the program.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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