Negros gov creates sugar task force

MANILA, Philippines - Citing an early and long "dead season" in the sugar industry this year, the Negros Occidental provincial government created a task force to assist sugar workers in the province.

Online news site Visayan Daily Star reported that governor Isidro Zayco issued an executive order creating the Provincial Sugar Industry Task Force.

Named chairman of the task force was Board Member Enrique Miguel Lacson, who heads the provincial council's committee on food security.

Appointed vice chairman of the task force was board member Adolfo Mangao, head of the council's committee on agriculture.

Members include board members Nehemias de la Cruz and Patrick Lacson; Vivian Saratan of the Department of Labor and Employment; Raymund Montinola of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations; and Alfredo Reyes of the United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines Inc.;

Crisencio Abunda Jr. of the National Federation of Sugarcane Producers; provincial social welfare officer Liane Garcia; Randy Ronquillo of the Workers Amalgated Union of the Philippines; Allan Guzon of the Democratic Alliance of Labor Organizations and Rev. Aniceto Buenafe, director of the Diocese of Bacolod Social Action Center.

Zayco cited Sugar Regulatory Administrator Rafael Coscolluela's warning of an early start to the off-milling season in the sugar industry, or the dead season, due to low cane supply.

The dead season, which refers to the time when there is no work in sugar farms, usually starts in June and last for three months, but he said it could last up to five months this year.

Zayco, in his executive order, noted the spiraling cost of fuel and fertilizers and the low price of sugar last year could result to widespread hunger and displacement of workers in sugar-producing areas.

He said this calls for a coordinated move of government and the sugar industry leaders to mitigate its effects.

The task force will also serve as an advisory committee to the provincial council on matters pertaining to the sugar industry and the conditions affecting it.

Zayco said he will also appeal to President Arroyo for assistance in addressing the effects of the lean months in the sugar industry.

Also, he said he has written to Labor Secretary Marianito Roque seeking the release of P30 million from the sugar industry's Social Amelioration Fund for rice subsidy for the sugar workers during the lean season.

The provincial council also passed a resolution authored by Enrique Miguel Lacson urging the DOLE to facilitate the speedy release of the P30 million from the unclaimed and forfeited SAF of the sugar industry for the socio-economic package for sugar workers.

Zayco said local officials down to the village level should also prioritize their expenditures in preparation for the effects of the lean months in the sugar industry. - GMANews.TV