'We will survive the test of times'
BACOLOD CITY -- The Northern Negros Planters Association (NNPAI) marked its 40 years of existence and commits to survive the changes and new challenges of the sugar industry.
Senate President Manuel Villar graced the celebration held at Balay Kauswagan in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, Saturday.
Provincial Board member (2ndDistrict) Dr. Miller Serondo, NNPAI President, said that the crop year 2007-2008 is another extraordinary year for the association in terms of sugar production despite the high costs of inputs in the field. "This we owe to the cooperation and support of our planter-members and of course the favorable weather condition. We have increased the salaries of the NNPAI employees and adjusted productivity bonus, milling incentives, including loyalty awards to deserving employees," he said.
He also gladly reported that they are already in the second phase of their repairs and rehabilitation of the NNPAI building located in Sagay City and hopes to completely finish it by this crop year.
But when there is gain, there are also challenges ahead, Serondo said.
"We expect a remarkable drop in our sugar production for the incoming crop year 2008-2009 due to the increasing cost of fuel and oil-based products, specifically fertilizers, the main ingredients of sugar cane culture, as against the relatively low price of sugar," he lamented.
The National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP) in which NNPAI is a member is seriously considering the importation of fertilizers for their planter members.
NFSP with the Sugar Alliance is bent in organizing an independent Anti-Smuggling Body, hopefully with juridical entity and police power, to curb the rampant sugar smuggling.
They also plan to go organic fertilizer production which is strongly considered by the association in joint venture with the Sugar Mill District Development Council Foundation, Inc.
Serondo said that "this will make the price of organic sugar fertilizer lower than the market cost and very affordable to sugar planters, the small planters, having the first priority to purchase."
He also reported that Sagay Central Inc, (SCI) is now in preliminary talks with a foreign partner, for SCI to produce sugar and ethanol at a ratio of 75% sugar and 25% ethanol. This plan was unanimously supported by the present Board of Directors and hopefully the planter-members will also concur.
"With your continued confidence, support and patronage and with God's grace, we still can make it," he said.
The association continues to get their strength from the vision and passion for service and love for the industry to former Governor Joseph G. Marañon, the father of NNPAI.
"His contribution to the success of the association and its employees will continue to be our guiding principle in surviving the many challenges ahead," Serondo said.