The largest independent planter’s group, Asociacion de Agricultures de la Carlota y Pontevedra Inc. (AALCPI) and the Universal Robina Corporation (URC) mills in Kabankalan and La Carlota cities gave their commitment help the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) fight the Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI) infestation in Negros, an SRA press release said Monday, June 29.
Former SRA Administrator and AALCPI Manager Dave Alba along with URC SURE Managing Director Rene Cabati, URC CAC head Mario Palma, URC Sonedco Christy Azuro, and La Carlota Mill District Development Chair (MDDC) Florencio Alonso, sat down with SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona and Board Member Ma. Mitzi Mangwag at the SRA Quezon City office, with Board Member David Andrew Sanson present online, on Thursday to discuss what cooperation can be arrived at in the fight against RSSI.
Alba said that for as long as SRA takes the lead, those in AALCPI, along with their mill partners, are willing to take a unified stand on how best to eradicate, or at best, minimize the effects of RSSI in their mill district.
He said that they are very happy with the results of SRA’s efforts and assistance with their farmer members in the district, and as a group, they have realized that SRA can only do so much unless the private sector helps the government.
Alba added that if they are assured that SRA is the lead agency, everyone in AALCPI, their farmers, their mill partners, and their MDDC will all help and contribute in the effort.
Alonso said they saw the effects of SRA’s interventions in controlling the infestation in their mill district last year and they remain confident that SRA is the right agency to continue to spearhead these efforts.
However, he noted that this time, they need to expand the scope and involve the farmers, the mill, and more importantly the local government units to make it work.
URC also signified that they will put in their time, money, and effort to help their farmers, noting that being united especially at a time like this is very important.
Alba said that they will work together instead of being divisive and that they in AALCPI are willing to help extend funding support to programs that will curb the RSSI infestation.
However, he emphasized that they would like to make it clear that they will only work with the existing task force led by Governor Eugenio Lacson with SRA as the action officer, and not any other task force being mulled by other groups.*
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