Three sugar mills in Negros Occidental expressed willingness to restart their operations before the official start of the milling season, in response to the call of the local government.
The Asociacion de Agricultores de La Carlota y Pontevedra (AALCPI) said Victorias Milling Co., Universal Robina Corp. La Carlota and Binalbagan Isabela Sugar Co. are willing to reopen and mill early, provided that raw sugar will be available.
David Alba, AALCPI general manager, said his group, along with other industry stakeholders, is helping Jeffrey Ferrer, Negros Occidental vice governor, to reach out to the various mills in the province.
Alba said the three millers are prepared to resume operations as early as August, a month earlier than the official opening of the milling season that is usually in September.
More mills are expected to follow suit, he added.
The Sugar Regulatory Administration earlier cited the need to import more sugar on top of the 200,000 metric tons covered by Sugar Order 3 warning the country’s raw sugar supply may be depleted by the first week of August, while refined sugar supply might only last until the end of July. – Jed Macapagal
