US hikes sugar quota

Nothing beats it. The country’s sugar producers, including those from Mindanao, may be happy to hear the report from Luin Tongoy, chair of the Negros-Panay Chapter of Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations Inc. (CONFED), that the US Department of Agriculture has announced an increase by 450,000 short tons of sugar imports for 2006.

Tongoy dispatched his report from Washington D.C. where he was attending the International Sugar Organization’s annual meeting.

In effect this will mean that the Philippines may get as much as 35,000 metric tons in addition to the 35,000 metric announced earlier by the USDA before Hurricane Katrina struck the Louisiana and Florida areas.

It seems that the assessment of the havoc to the US sugar industry exceeded original estimates. It was learned, for example, that Hurricane Rita had devastated a much winder area of Louisiana’s sugarcane crops. The hurricane drove sea water as far as 15 miles inland. The problem is that sea water is not immediately handled. It may take months to address the problem of salt intrusion.

Sugar Administrator James Ledesma earlier said he was sure that the USDA may request for an additional quota of 350,000 metric tons before the yearend.

Aside from damage to sugarcane crops, there was also the disruption of mill and refinery capacity.

Reynaldo Bantug, Confed national president, urged sugar farmers not to immediately sell their quedans as traders were reportedly poised to compete fiercely with one another for the chance to get hold of their "A" (US quota sugar).

This may require the SRA to allow the early conversion of "B" (domestic sugar) to "A" to enable the Philippines to meet the requirements of its long-term trading partner in sugar.

USDA is reassigning 450,000 short tons of the current sugar marketing allotment to imports because of the recent hurricanes that significantly reduced the sugar production potential of Louisiana and Florida.

Last week, the news of the hiked US quota must have influenced the domestic millgate prices. Herman Santos, office manager of the Confed, said the average price of "A" sugar was P993 per Lkg. (50 kilogram bags) and P924 for domestic sugar.

This has enabled farmers, who are complaining about the increased cost of inputs, to recover their expenses.

Actually, the higher production cost was responsible for the major drop in the production of sugar.

But the latest development has enabled farmers to catch up with their losses and enabled them to profit a bit. But it may be too late to avert further depression of production.

The bright side is the possibility that bioethanol production may take off. The problem is, as pointed out by Francis Trenas, president of the PanayFED, that the Senate still has to pass the National Bioethanol Program bill. Last week, PanayFed appealed to the members of the Senate to enact the measure fast as it had been certified as urgent by President Arroyo.

New Jollibee branch in Bacolod

Jollibee stamped its imprimatur on the claim that it is the biggest giant food chain in the country with the inauguration Sunday of its eighth branch at the Lopue’s East Center along Burgos Street in Bacolod.

It is operated by Teofilo Ponce and his wife, Lucy. Ponce hinted that there may be more Jollibee branches in Bacolod and Negros Occidental soon when he said in his inaugural address that "as we celebrate the birthday of our 8th Jollibee baby, we’re still looking forward to having more."

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra led the blessing rites. But what was heartening was that among those who attended the inaugural were Butch Lopez of McDonald’s-Bacolod, Diotay Lopuez and Billy Lopue, the latter of Lopue’s East, and Andres Valencia, vice president of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Also present was Mayor Evelio Leonardia and his wife, Elsa.

It proved, among others, that Bacolod, from the point of view of the businessmen, continues to grow as evidenced by the clearing of the site for the future SM Mall at the Bacolod reclamation area

Actually, bulldozers had already cleared most of the grasses and illegal squatters’ improved shanties at the six-hectare lot that the SM Mall will occupy. Work on the construction will start early January. The P600-million mall will be completed by October, next year, just on time for the Masskara Festival.

That project is expected to trigger a scramble for additional construction in the area, according to Simplicio Palanca, head of the Bacolod Real Estate Department (BREDCO).

That, to a certain extent, supports Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon’s complaint on why Negros is still considered the 27th among the country’s provinces. That figure from the NEDA is reportedly outmoded.

One does not need to be an economist to realize that. Right now, for example, investments are pouring into the province, especially in the tourism industry. Right now, for example, foreign investors have been making a beeline to Southern Negros Occidental to look into the potentials of the still underdeveloped tourist and scenic spots, especially in Hinoba-an, Sipalay City, Cauayan, and Kabankalan in the North.

The recently concluded Southeast Asian Games also injected much money into the money stream and brings into Bacolod future hopes of an increased influx of foreign visitors early next year.

In short, with the stream of potential investors in biofuel manufacture, especially ethanol, the province may take off in spectacular fashion by next year.

Then there is the Palm Oil and rubber plantations being encouraged by the Metro-Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) led by Roberto Montelibano and the provincial government.

Most of these things happening are done quietly. Sans fanfare actually, but their implications are tremendous. It confirms the hopes by President Arroyo that the Philippine economy may actually improve by next year.

We can only cross our fingers.

Concert raises funds for burned housewife

Bacolod folks raised a total of P103,000 in the fund-raising concert by songstress Token Lizares for Thelma Panes, a Hinobaan (Negros Occidental) housewife who was badly burned by a jealous neighbor.

The fund-raising show was staged in Saltimboca Musica Bar. She raised exactly P103,000 for Panes’ medicines and hospitalization.

Token explained that she had only 10 days to prepare for the fund-raising concert with Liza Limjap, Jimmer Monserrate and Paolo Maghari as guest performers.

On May 14, 2004, a jealous neighbor threw muriatic acid and gasoline on Thelma, a mother of three, and tossed a lighted candle at her, setting her on fire.

Thelma’s plight had touched many humanitarians when she said that she is willing to forgive Rose. The latter is now facing a frustrated murder charge before the Regional Trial Court of Kabankalan City.

Top three policemen

The Council of Lions Clubs Presidents of Negros Occidental last night held a major feast to honor the three top policemen of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.

Lion Engineer Jimmy Bangero is the chairman of the Search Committee of the Council.

The awardees were Senior Inspector Rico Santantome Jr., Valladolid police chief, SPO 4 Pabiolo Ortiz, Negros Occidental Provincial Office and PO3 Danete Victor Escorpion, of the Silay PNP.

At least, our local cops have not been forgotten. That’s something which Negrense Lions do every year — honor the outstanding cops of the province.