NFSP URGES CONGRESS
Pass Sugarcane Act,
time not on our side

Enrique Rojas, president of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters, yesterday echoed the call of United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines president Manuel Lamata for the immediate passage of the Sugarcane Act principally authored by Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District).

“We need to pass this legislation now. Time is not on our side. In ten months, tariff on imported sugar will be lowered to 5 percent. We need to put in place the programs which can ensure the sustainability of the sugarcane industry beyond 2015,” Rojas said.

Ninety percent of the approximately 62,000 sugarcane farmers in the country are cultivating 10 hectares and below, Rojas pointed out.

Restore Carp land market,
BY CARLA GOMEZ

There is need to restore the genuine market for lands covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program so they can become productive assets again, Rafael Coscolluela, president of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations, said yesterday.

Restoring the market for CARP lands means removing restrictions on their sale, mortgage or lease, he said.

Removing these restrictions will help agrarian reform beneficiaries sell, lease or mortgage their properties at higher rates, without having to go underground, that is unregulated and exploitative, Coscolluela explained.

Tension rises at fire site
as owner fences off area
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Tension rose in Purok Magtiayon, Brgy. 10, Bacolod City, yesterday morning when the owner of the property, where several houses were destroyed by a fire incident that broke out on February 17, tried to fence off his property.

Barangay Captain Dexter Yap of Brgy 10, yesterday said he stopped the security guards sent by Rommel Agupitan from putting up perimeter fences in his property unless they could present a fencing permit and clearance from the barangay.

They also called Police Station 2 to help defuse the tension in the area, he said.