Sugar leaders yesterday blamed the threat of price control and sugar smuggling for the recent slump in millgate sugar prices to less than P2,000 per 50-kilobag.

Sugar Regulatory Administrator Gina Martin said market forces were dictating the prices, and reiterated that she is against price control.

But she said she may request for the advance of the export of the second and third tranches of sugar intended to fill RP’s share of the US quota that totals about 130,000 MT.

Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said he will seek help for the health and agriculture programs of Negros Occidental during the expected visit of President Benigno Aquino to Negros Occidental Friday.

The governor said he will raise the need for the upgrading of provincial government-run hospitals, especially their equipment, to keep pace with the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Care program.

He will also ask the president for additional irrigation assistance and farm-to-market roads for Negros Occidental, he said.

The relief of 31 police chiefs in Negros Occidental on March 1 got the support of Mayor David Albert Lacson, chairperson of the Negros Association of Chief Executives and Municipal Mayor’s League, who said, “There is nothing wrong” with it.

His stand, however, contrasts that of Kabankalan City Mayor Isidro Zayco and La Castellana Mayor Alberto Nicor, who are opposing the relief of their police chiefs, saying they are performing well.

Lacson said he believes the decision of Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, provincial police director, to remove all the police chiefs from their positions, aims to improve the delivery of basic police service to Negrenses.