Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday, May 13, that the drought damage to sugarcane will affect Negros Occidental’s economy.
It will impact on Negros Occidental because sugar is still our primary agricultural product, Lacson said.
So we can expect less purchasing power from consumers, he added.
Negros Occidental has suffered the biggest damage to sugarcane because it is the biggest sugar producer in the country, he pointed out.
But if rain comes soon, it will minimize the damage because sugarcane in a sturdy crop, Lacson said.
The Sugar Regulatory Administration on Friday said the drought damage to sugar and molasses in Western Visayas was P215,700,114, with Negros Occidental the hardest hit at P200,178,856.*