Why sugar prices are low

While everybody focuses on the achievements of Negros Occidental, there is one thing that keeps bothering us - the low sugar prices. And this is something that deserves to be examined. First, there is the traditional whipping boy - sugar smuggling. But that does not seem to be really true. If there had been such smuggling, these are in small quantities. At least, they have not jarred the sugar industry as in the past.

But one thing that is bothersome is the continued lowering of refined sugar withdrawals. That indicates a shift in the use by bottling firms and the food industries of sugar. The trend is that there has been an increasing use of sweeteners, including of "Splenda" among households.

Sugar Regulatory Administrator James Ledesma repeatedly expressed his chagrin over this development. And the fact that all proposed solutions have remained ineffective to curb the slide down of sugar pries, despite the fact that the milling season had ended.

Incidentally, the SRA has nothing to do with sugar importation. The only power it has is to monitor the entry of sugar. The Bureau of Customs is the agency tasked with curbing smuggling. Ethanol promises to relieve the sugar farmers of their problem, although that still remains a pipe dream. Perhaps, in two or three years from now it will provide an alternative market for sugarcane juice. Otherwise, I think what is needed is for the sugar industry to study seriously how best to produce sugar products from sugar and not to leave the situation as it now is.

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Visions and goals have been painted by local government executives for guidance of their respective communities on what to expect and how they can all cooperate and support them.

But, sometimes, our local officials forget the more common and immediate problems that could crop up.

I would like to point out the need for Governor Joseph Marañon to call the key officials of Silay City, Talisay and Bacolod to a conference to address the issue of access to and affordability of travel to and from the new airport of international standard in Silay City. This is reportedly to be inaugurated in August yet.

That gives time for local officials and public transport operators to discuss the issue of fares.

In Iloilo, there is now an ongoing controversy among taxicab operators and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board over the imposition of an additional tip of P80 to the expected P385 cab fare to Cabatuan, the site of the new Iloilo Airport.

The Association of Taxicab Operators of Panay had asked for an additional P140 "patong" instead.

While they are battling as to which rate could be accepted by them, nobody seems to have asked the public how much the airline passengers could afford to pay for the trip to and from the new airport.

There was an uproar from the LTFRB over the fielding by the airport of commuter buses from the city to the new airport site. Which actually is the best solution to the affordability issue.

The question - how many could afford the P385 fare to and from the airport?

In the case of the Silay Airport, there is no new access road. So, how can the airport be operationalized?

And, yes, granted that the road can be completed, what about linking it to the Circumferential Road?

Now is the time to make the study on how to approach the daunting problem. There is so much debate in Iloilo over the issue. Simply because city officials and the Air Transportation people as well as the provincial officials had not seized the problem before it caught them flatfooted. Everybody just keeps counting the golden eggs without first realizing that it could be busted eggs that they are getting.

Another problem is to make sure that the road to the airport does not get clogged up by traffic. I guess that also will involve the traffic management coordinators of the three cities.

In short, what I am pointing out is the need for a master plan to be drawn up by the heads of local governments with the governor of the province. Which means that the private sectors should also be drawn into the planning.

That may sound like a dream. But it is about time that we look at the problem of development in terms of holistic impact on the lives of people in the affected areas.

That's a tall order. But it is about time that our officials look at the problem from that point of view.

Meanwhile, my congratulations to the city officials of Bacolod led by City Mayor Evelio Leonardia. So with Cong. Monico Puentevella who, I am sure, will not hesitate to discuss with Leonardia and company what they could do together in planning for the future of Bacolod.*

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