Sugar industry issues tackled

A caucus on the state of the sugar industry was held by the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters at the 56th Philippine Sugar Technologists Association Annual National Convention at the Water Front Hotel, Lahug, Cebu City, a press release from NFSP said.

Presidents and chairpersons of sugarcane planters associations and cooperatives traditionally attend the PHILSUTECH convention.

NFSP president Enrique Rojas and other top NFSP officers join the initiative as an opportunity for members from all over the country to gather and get updates on important issues that touch the sugar industry, the press release said.

NFSP members from the Visayas joined their fellow members from as far north as Cagayan Valley in Luzon down south to Davao and Bukidnon in Mindanao.

Sugar Board Member and Philippine Sugar Millers Association executive director Archie Amarra, newly appointed Sugar Master Plan Foundation Executive Director Felixberto Monasterio and Sugar Master Plan Foundation Officer-in-Charge Giacomo Alonso, reported on the present state of the sugar industry and on the industry scenario for the coming crop year.

Amarra and Alonso likewise outlined the draft Sugar Master Plan to prepare the industry for borderless trade or tariff-free scenario in the coming years and the proposed steps on how the industry can consolidate all its efforts for the benefit of all sugar industry stakeholders, the press release said.

Manuel Lamata, UNIFED president and head of the Sugar Anti-Smuggling Organization under the auspices of the Sugar Alliance of the Philippines, and Col. Remus Canieso, 6th Regional Mobile Group Commander, were invited by Rojas to inform the members on the accomplishments and the measures being taken by the industry against the perennial problem of sugar smuggling.

Lamata and Canieso emphasized that, even if current world sugar prices makes sugar smuggling financially untenable, the sugar industry should not let its guard down against sugar smugglers because the volatility of world sugar prices in the near future might again make it profitable for smugglers to ply their illegal trade.

Another issue which directly impacts on the sustainability of productive sugarcane farming is the recently signed CARPer law. NFSP legal consultants and Enrique Tabino informed the members about the salient points of this new agrarian law and explained to them the implications of the provisions of the new law.*

source: visayandailystar