Biofuel, salvation for sugar industry

While there have lately been criticisms or cautions about plunging into biofuel production as possibly causing shortage in food, Senator Migz Zubiri Saturday stressed that the local situation is to the contrary. It will precisely help the sugar industry dispose of its surplus production.

That was the point emphasized by Senator Migz Subiri Saturday during a one-on-one talk with me at the L'Fisher Hotel. He also said that the areas to be planted in jatropha are sloped with 25 degrees that are not suitable for food crops.

In short, the so-called experts on biofuel must have been talking in general terms about conditions in other countries and unaware of local conditions, Zubiri pointed out.

Addressing the problem of sugar, Sen. Zubiri pointed out that the industry faces possible collapse by 2010 unless it can assure that the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement will place sugar and rice in the highly sensitive list. That could avert the decrease of tariff to only 5 percent.

But even then, unless ethanol production can alleviate the pressure, the country will continue to produce surplus sugar.

In short, how can ethanol undercut food security? Zubiri questioned.

In the case of jatropha, he pointed out that these are to be planted to food crops.

In short, we shall not be converting agriculture lands into jatropha. And this will not undercut food security, Zubiri added.

In the case of sugar, he added that now the country is already confronted with the problem of surplus and the need to export sugar at a very low price.

Zubiri, who is a sugar farmer, said those have been not into farming may not fully understand the problems confronting local farmers. Instead, they make conclusions from airconditioned offices or homes.

They do not know that with the price of urea now reaching P1,600 per bags, farmers are faced with the possibility of bankrupt. And the fertilizers cost will continue to go up as the price of oil increase, Zubiri stressed.

That, I think, was a simple explanation by the solon. That should convince officialdom that there is money in biofuels for the Philippines . For that matter, it is considered more a matter of survival.

Zubiri yesterday proceeded to Kabankalan City where he was the principal guest of the city government for its Sinulog festival in honor of the St. Niño.

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Reporters have already written about the historic inauguration of the new international airport in Silay City . It was a thrilling event. And many passengers, including balikbayans, were grateful now we have an airport that we can be proud of.

Both Vice President Noli de Castro and acting Gov. Isidro Zayco had the same message—give a chance to change. In short, let us take advantage of the potential benefits of the economy and tourism for all the communities within the reach of the airport. It now represents an important gateway to Negros Occidental.

There are still kinks to be ironed out for example, the shuttle buses will be charging an affordable fare of P100 per passenger. Some according to Ed Sutherland, from Business Inn charge P400 per head. But then there is the other alternative – P100 per head or P50 for a cab.

There's a cheaper way to get to the airport. Take a jeepney up to the corner of Mckinley road and then get a tricycle. The fare for the trike is only P10 up to the airport, according to local trike drivers.

Then, there is the bothersome observation by locals on the need for roving patrols of security men at the end of the runway. While the security is tight at the entrance, they may have forgotten that rebels had entered the airport via other areas.

The congressmen at the inauguration included Reps. Alfredo Marañon III, Jose Carlos Lacson, Monico Puentevella, Jeffrey Ferrer, Mikey Arroyo, and even Jules Ledesma IV from San Carlos .

Surprisingly, only Senator Migz Zubiri had two welcome signs at the gate to the airport.

Incidentally, former ASEC Ricardo “Cano” Tan was the first man to disembark from the first flight to touch down. Also with him was Lions International Director Em Ang. And a group of balikbayans from Guam .

Silay City Mayor Jose Montelibano did not spare any expense to make the occasion like a festival. And the Silay Rondalla really added luster to the affair.

Retain the Bacolod airport advocate Rodolfo “Babes” Alvarez stood out among the crowd. Ed Alunan also was conspicuous, he had left on Thursday's last flight to Manila and arrived on Friday's first flight to be part of the history of the Silay Airport .

I am not sure whether Faith taxis were given preferential treatment in getting inside the airport. But there were some reports that other cabs parked outside the main gate were reportedly complaining about the discrimination. That's something which ATO manager Alfonso can or should explain to the public.

As a veteran flyer, myself, I feel proud with the new airport, definitely I think it is better than that of Iloilo which, even now, is having a major problem with the threat of a power firm to shutout the lights because of failure by the ATO to pay P4-million in debts.

In short, we should give the Silay Airport the chance to change our lives and to impact on our fortunes.*

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