Sugar industry loses P1.2 B to Yolanda—SRA

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The country’s sugar industry had lost more than P1.2 billion to typhoon Yolanda, according to the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).

In her presentation to Sen. Cynthia Villar during the first public hearing of a proposed Senate Bill, “Strengthening the Sugar Cane Industry,” at the SRA Office in this city, SRA chief Ma. Regina Martin said the sugar industry lost P1,210,969,409 to Yolanda, based on the report of the SRA’s Extension and Technical Services Division.

This represented 931,514.93 Lkg of sugar, or 2.79 percent of the country’s production, she said.

But two sugar mills—Bogo-Medellin Milling Co. Inc. in Cebu and Ormoc Sugar Co. in Ormoc—have been damaged by the typhoon and will not be able to resume milling of cane in their areas for some time, Martin said.

Martin assured Filipinos that the country will have enough sugar supply despite the massive destruction in sugar plantations all over the country.

The SRA report showed losses to the following sugar mill districts in Negros Occidental: Lopez with P175 million, Victorias (P300 million), San Carlos (P2 million) and Sagay/Danao (P210 million).

Losses in the other mills districts are: Passi (P115 million), Santos-Lopez (P58.9 million), Monomer (P27.8 million),  Capiz (P82 million), Bogo-Medellin in Cebu (P68 million) and Ormoc (P170 million).

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, who also attended the Senate hearing, however said the damage to the country’s sugar is minimal partly because sugarcane is a resilient crop. (FREEMAN)