Sugar industry summit bats for global edge

BACOLOD CITY: Negros leaders and senators are planning to call for a sugar summit early next year to discuss the crafting of a plan to make the Philippine sugar industry globally competitive for it to survive.

Negros Occidental Fifth District the mechanics of the event Rep. Emilio Yulo told The during the Christmas season. Manila Times that the sugar summit “We anticipate higher demand for is a suggestion of Bacolod sugar as we are going back to the new City Mayor Alfredo Benitez during normal. We have to address the problem a meeting with Senators Jose Victor as soon as possible to be globally Ejercito and Sherwin Gatchalian competitive,” he pointed out. who were in the city Friday. He said the sugar industry should

“Considering the problems and find ways to be more productive. challenges faced by the sugar industry, He expressed optimism that especially the need to make the industry can define it during the Philippine sugar industry globally the summit. competitive and productive, There should also be a convergence there is a need to organize a sugar with national agencies like the Departments summit,” Yulo said. of Agriculture, and Agrarian

The summit will gather the Reform as well as with the National different stakeholders and the Irrigation Administration and others government agencies, he said. that have a working relationship with

Bacolod City will host the summit, the sugar industry, he added. as Negros Occidental is considered the “Whatever the result of the summit, sugar capital of the country, he added. we can bring it up with the national

Yulo said that they will formulate government,” Yulo said.

They will also see if there is a need for legislation to address the concerns raised at the summit, he said.

Benitez said there is “a need to consolidate sugar farms in the Philippines for efficient, productive and sustainable economies of scale.”

“We need to modernize through mechanization, which will make sense if a minimum of 2,000 hectares of land is consolidated,” the mayor said.

FROM MAYOR ALBEE BENITEZ’S FB PAGE PHOTO Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and JV Ejercito meet with Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo ‘Albee’ Benitez and Negros Occidental Rep. Emilio Yulo (first from right) on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, in an undisclosed restaurant.