Market forces up "B"
sugar millgate prices

As earlier predicted, market forces took over the issue of millgate prices, driving them up to P1,085.82 in the Hawaiian Philippines district and P1,070.82 for the Asociacion de Agricultures de La Carlota y Pontevedra.

The trend was expected to hold yesterday, although reports from the sugar mills in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental still have to be heard.

"A" sugar (or those intended for the US market) also fetched higher prices last Thursday. HPCO sugar received P1,098.92 per Lkg. That of La Carlota was bidded out for P1,093.92.

The Wednesday bidding for the Department of Labor and Employment stocks at the Binalbagan-Isabela Sugar Company at P,1035 per Lkg. was the usual trend-setter and immediately influenced the market.

DOLE sold its "A" sugar at P1,078.27, according to the report by Enrique Montilla, president of the Binalbagan-Isabela Planters Association.

Last week, DOLE turned down the bid for P983 per Lkg. for its domestic sugar in the BISCOM area. It sold its "A" sugar for P1,035 per Lkg.

Speculation on the tightness of sugar supply must have influenced the millgate prices of sugar, Sugar Regulatory Administrator James Ledesma said.

By press time, it is expected that sugar mills in the province and Oriental Negros will already be able to report the bidding prices for their sugar stocks.

This is normally the period when sugar millgate prices drop. But the past two weeks, despite the release of the "C" sugar, prices continued to climb up. That validates what Ledesma had stressed previously when hit for that move, that eventually market forces will take over the pricing of sugar.

Well, just keep our fingers crossed that the price remains high enough to make sugar farmers comfortable that they are now profiting instead of facing deficits in their agricultural enterprise.

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RTC Judge Anastacio Rufon is expected to act with dispatch on the suit and counter-suit filed by the Sausi family and the Baciwa against each other. The reason - the RTC judge knows very well that the issue must be speedily resolved since it affects the water supply of some 9,000 residents of lowland Bacolod.

One thing, though caught my attention. Edmundo Sausi, in compliance with the agreement with BACIWA, had been allowed to work as regular employee of the water firm for 20 years and retired with his son, having taken over that position until recently.

In short, the Sausi family had their agreement complied with by the water firm. But now, they suddenly deny Baciwa employees and officials access to the Buro-Buro water wells.

Anyway, the judge is supposed to rule on that issue soon. I hope that will be achieved before the thirsty Bacolodnons rise up in arms against both the water firm and the Sausi family.

Just a rejoinder. The way I understand it, that Sausi property is under Talisay City. Just a reminder for subalterns of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia to check on.

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Three strikes means simply "out." But not in the case of BCC Administrator Mario Tajanlangit. The decision of the CSC Manila invalidating the appointment of Administrator Tajanlangit means that he is out.

Now, it is the Sangguniang Panlungsod that can validate Tajanlangit's appointment. Of course, City Legal Officer Allan Zamora has the right to file a motion for reconsideration with the CSC proper. And even proceed to elevate the issue to the Supreme Court.

But, even if Tajanlangit remains as BCC administrator, he may no longer feel comfortable in that position.

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C'mon, gentlemen, time for you to remedy the injustice to the Yusay couple, the owners of the Sugarland Hotel for what may be considered as breach of contract and bad faith in the performance of their duties under the Memorandum of Understanding with the hotel management, the city government, Bacolod City, and the Air Transportation Office.

Negros Occidental Governor Joseph Marañon paved the way for a possible judicial wisdom in settling the indemnity for the Sugarland Hotel when he agreed to pay the hotel owners P3.6 million as the province's share in the demolition of the hotel's fourth floor.

Of course, he objected to the other payments the court had ordered.

The point of the governor is well-taken. He does not want an adversarial position "because we are advocating a friendly attitude toward business."

That, I think is the far-reaching signal from the provincial government that most must heed.

City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, however, is playing hardball. Admittedly, though, he has not yet seen a copy of the court decision.

But his position is understandable. It was the photo of Leonardia climbing up the ladder to the fourth floor of the Sugarland parapet that won him the mayorship during his first term.

And so, admittedly, he will fight the decision up to the Supreme Court.

I hope, however, that reason will prevail and the Yusay couple receive the justice they so richly deserved after all these years of suffering. In life, there is such a thing as "karma."

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Both Lando Sapa and Mike Asignacion left their imprint on local journalists.

And, yesterday, members of the Negros Press Club paid their tribute to Mike, the man obsessed with Abante Negros.

During his lifetime, Mike had helped a lot of mediamen. He was actually more of a PR man, although he did his stints as a broadcaster and, later, as KBP chairman. I know a lot of legendary timely assistance extended by Mike to mediamen in their crisis moments. But they are better left retold by the beneficiaries, themselves.

But like the late Arcadio Sison, that "crisis PR man," he managed to helped so many when they found themselves in crisis.*

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