Newly rebranded planters group “The Sugar Association Inc.”, formerly the Vicmico Planters Association, has secured acceptance as one of the accredited partner associations of Hawaiian-Philippine Company (HPCo) in Silay City.
“We are honored to be formally recognized as one of the partner associations of HPCo. The Hawaiian sugar mill is known for integrity and transparency in its operations, and fair treatment of its partner planters. We look forward to a cordial and mutually beneficial working relationship with HPCo in the years to come,” Aurelio Gerardo “Bodie” J. Valderrama Jr., president of The Sugar Association, said in a press release Tuesday, April 23.
“We express our gratitude and appreciation to HPCo and to the officers of Asociacion de Hacienderos de Silay-Saravia, Inc. (AHSSI), Associated Planters of Silay-Saravia, Inc. (APSSI), Hawaiian Philippines Planters Association, Inc. (HPPAI) and Association of Productive Planters of Negros Occidental, Inc. (APP-Negros) for the warm welcome they accorded our association,” Valderrama added.
Established in 1918, HPCo is one of the pioneer sugar mills in the country. It has a milling capacity of 7,500 tons canes per day. Many sugar farmers prefer HPCo because it produces superior quality sugar, which fetches a premium price in the market, the press release said.
HPCo has also gained the sugar farmers’ confidence in the accurate measurement of the weight and sugar content of the planters’ canes, it added.
The old Vicmico Planters Association milled with Victorias Milling Co. since 2006. For several years, it was one of the mill’s top sugar producers. Due to irreconcilable differences of opinions concerning planters’ rightful representation in mill operations, equitable planters’ share and prompt payment of agreed incentives, among others, the mill unilaterally cut off ties with the association, the press release said.
This parting of ways with VMC prompted Vicmico Planters Association members to bring their canes to HPCo and form a new group, The Sugar Association, which was eventually accredited by the mill. This is the first time after almost 30 years that HPCo has accepted and recognized a new planters group, it said.
The other officers of The Sugar Association are: Vice President – Jose Maria Montinola, Secretary – Nemesio dela Cruz, Treasurer – Lyndon Lim, and Board of Trustees – Jose V. Ledesma IV, Oscar Gil Ascalon, Emilio Young, Jose Miguel Cuaycong, Jose Miguel Montinola, Jose Ma. Gaston, Reynaldo Bantug, Eric Kenneth Jereza, Gerard Raymund Joseph Benedicto and Terence John Ortiz.*