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Sugar workers may lose jobs, DALO warns.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe relentless spread of the red-stripe soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation is threatening jobs of thousands of sugar workers, the Democratic Association of Labor Organizations warned Friday, August 7.In Northern Negros, members are already seeking advice after being informed in advance by their employers that operations will cease, DALO president Alan Gozon said in a statement.The reason given by employers was the deadly effect of RSSI, which has destroyed more than 50 percent of their cane production, he said.“Although we look at this as a flimsy excuse by some employers to dismiss workers who have rendered long service, the continued spread of RSSI will ultimately lead to the closure of sugarcane farms,”...

Major sugar industry groups expressed broad support for increased government funding, modernization, stronger regulation and greater transparency in the sugar industry, but differed sharply over proposals to expand the composition of the Sugar Regulatory Administration’s Sugar Board.The contrasting positions emerged during the House Committee on Agriculture and Food hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 4, where lawmakers began deliberations on six measures seeking reforms to the Sugarcane Industry Development Act (SIDA) and, in some proposals, the charter of the SRA.The Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations (CONFED), United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED) and National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP) were among the stakeholders that submitted th...

Noli Rosales (left) , KMU  Negros secretary general, at the Hacienda Lolita workers' press conference last month.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Negros has  rejected claims by Confederation of Sugar Producers Association (CONFED) President Aurelio Valderrama that a labor case filed against him was weaponized to discredit his reputation.During the hearing of the House Committee on Agriculture regarding the amendment of the Sugar Industry Development Act (SIDA), the case filed by 28 workers at Hacienda Lolita in Barangay Luna, Cadiz City—which is managed by Valderrama—was brought up, Noli Rosales, KMU  Negros secretary general, said in a statement released  Friday, August 7. Valderrama stated that instead of going through the Department of L...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson leads the turnover of livestock and poultry on Thursday*Richard Malihan photoNegros Occidental is studying the imposition of a minimum buying price for live hogs and pork, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Thursday, August 6.He noted that Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental imposed a minimum buying price for live hogs and pork products to protect raisers amid growing concerns over the spread of African swine fever (ASF).“I understand that traders are avoiding Guihulngan and buying from neighboring towns and cities instead, which somehow weakens the executive order,” Lacson said.But  he heard plans are underway to impose the minimum buying price provincewide in Negros Oriental, the governor said.“We are studying that option here in Negros Occ...