Efficiency is the game

I got a letter from Confed Negros-Panay Chairman Jose Luis J. Tongoy commending me "for anticipating what planters will do in the coming years."

This is certainly a "boom" for the sugarcane planters and everyone in the supply chain but a "bust" is sure to come, he added.

He said, "Planters need to get even more efficient: increase production per unit area. Production from marginal lands will continue to be losers.

But he also corrected me and I welcome it. World production of sugar, he wrote, has not dipped. For 2006, the latest International Sugar Organization forecast estimates a production deficit of 1.5 to 2 million metric tons.

And Thai quota "A" domestic sugar is rumored to being smuggled into Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam where prices are higher. Thailand, Tongoy said, has a structural problem in its sugar policy.

He also pointed out Brazil has not cut off its ethanol production but continues to expand for 2006. He said, 12 sugar/ethanol factories are set to be opened each with their designated plantations.

An ISO study, said Luis Tongoy, projects Brazil sugarcane production to grow 7 percent annually or up to 570 metric ton canes by 2010.

Cosan, he added, one of the largest Brazilian sugar companies is even piloting a sugarcane biomass to ethanol project. Brazil needs ethanol for the Brazilian flexi-fuel cars which they might also export in the future, said Tongoy.

Thanks, Louie.

* * *

For many of us who lost a son in the prime of their life share and feel with deep grief of our friends Miling and Teresing Lizares on the death of their 38-year old son, Mayor Anthony V. Lizares of Talisay City.

Just like his father, I have been close to Anthony as we sat down a number of times and I could feel the warmth of his personality.

When I met Miling I always would pull his leg by telling him, he was nothing compared to his son as mayor. For the elder Lizares had been an undefeated champion mayor of Talisay.

But all of us have our own destiny. Anthony's is only up to there and nothing can influence the Moving Father that what It has written moves on that no amount of our wit and wisdom can cancel half a line nor all our tears can wash away a word of it.

It's painful, very painful. But let Miling and Teresing and the relatives and friends be consoled by the thought that, in his own way, Anthony also left a legacy.

For Anthony came like a Shooting Star in the firmament, dazzled us with its brightness and splendor and while we enjoy the heavenly display, it vanishes away.

* * *

Can this be true that holduppers are making a mockery of Bacolod police, doing their crimes in broad daylight and with impunity, fearless of being caught?

Of course, all those reported are petty crimes. But petty or major, they are a crime no less.

I am confident Police Chief Pete Merced can handle these. But, when will these culprits caught? It looks like the crime is being made by a syndicate.

Then this is bad. If it's true that these are being made to challenge the competence of Merced, then it's about time Merced must show his fangs.

Solving crimes does not just call for mere bravado. It also calls for high class dramatics.

If there is one of these holduppers crippled because "he tries to grab the gun of a policeman," these people will think twice.

We always say, you don't handle crimes with kid gloves.

* * *

It's good the NBI had arrested an impostor claiming to be an NBI agent. Then local NBI head Philip Pecache asked the public to report to NBI people posing to be an NBI agent.

In the rural areas especially, many people are victimized by these supposed "NBI agents."

Usually they are extortionists. Entrap them.

* * *

Vice-Governor Isidro Zayco together with board members Edgardo Acuña, Francis Tuvilla, Miller Serondo, and Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena will attend the poultry and egg exposition in Atlanta, Georgia.

Gov. Joseph Marañon approved their official travel.

I agree. We need to learn the latest technology abroad. Especially in poultry. I am in the midst of my own "caber" chicken project and I believe to people in the farm this can augment their income.

If raising pigs may be difficult, raising chickens is not.

Let us make Negros Occidental self supporting in chicken meat. I understand, we still import from other provinces.

Note that, compared with beef or pork, chicken meat is much cheaper because it's not difficult to raise. And raising native ones is still easier. They don't need much feed.

* * *

I talked yesterday with Romy Niere who now lives in Austin, Texas who promised to be the advertising agent of Sunshine Cable in the U.S. I forgot to greet him yesterday was his birthday too.

But after I talked to him, another friend lawyer Roseller "Bing" Ramos in California said that if Romy can put in shares at Sunshine Channel why not he too? And I got a call form Jimmy Golez too and many other friends.

I talked with my lawyer Willie Mirano who agreed with me, we will make a share at P1,000 each in order to accommodate friends. But we cannot accommodate all.

It pays to be a trusted friend.*

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