SRA: Pablo’s damage
could cause sugar drop
MASTER PLAN EXISTS, ZUBIRI TOLD
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Sugar Regulatory Administration is conducting a thorough assessment of the damage of typhoon "Pablo" on sugarcane crops, which may cause a drop in this year’s production, SRA administrator Ma. Regina Bautista Martin said yesterday.

“We have to inspect and verify the effects of the damages”, she said, pointing out that some planters and millers have reported damages due to flooding and lodging in Bukidnon, where the typhoon passed.

“We have only one SRA staff who will make the assessment in each mill district, so we coordinate with the mills, the planters association and the mill district development councils to acquire a picture of the whole situation”, Martin said.

Epayment launched

The Sugar Regulatory Administration is now ready to implement an electronic payment system for the export and import of sugar and sugar-based products to facilitate trade through the Philippine National Single Window (PNSW), SRA Administrator Ma. Regina Martin said yesterday.

SRA is among the first two government agencies piloted to implement the e-payment under the PNSW system together with the National Telecommunications Commission, Martin said.

This will facilitate paperless transaction in speed, with a full package of ePayment features, cutting transaction costs in securing cargo permits and clearances, she explained.

Multiple charges for murder, frustrated murder and robbery were filed before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office yesterday against four men tagged in the fatal shooting of a policeman and the injury of two others at the Goldenfield Commercial Complex Sunday.

City Police Director, Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, said the charges were filed against Ramir Arceña, “alias Kid Ramir”, Lino Cuadra, “alias Dodoy”, and their two unidentified companions, who remain at large.

Police Officer 2 Arnold Cañal, 44, of Regent Pearl Homes in Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod and member of the Regional Intelligence Division-6, died while being treated at the Bacolod Adventist Medical Center from five gunshot wounds after Arceña shot him with his own gun.