RESILIENT MEASURES. Mayor Antonio Barcelon (right) of Nasugbu, Batangas discusses the resilience of sugarcane farmers in his town despite a recent disruption in their livelihood, during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas at the Cultural Center in Lipa City on Tuesday (June 18, 2024). He explained that they are managing to adapt to market changes and enhance agricultural sustainability amid challenges. (Photo by Zen Trinidad)
LIPA CITY, Batangas – The municipal government of Nasugbu in this province said its sugar farmers are managing to transition to other livelihood sources after the closure of the Central Azucarera Don Pedro, a major sugar manufacturing firm, in March.
During Tuesday’s Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas held at the Cultural Center here, Nasugbu Mayor Antonio Barcelon said some of the sugar industry workers from his town have found other jobs.
However, because many of them still prefer to cultivate sugarcane, they are counting on a sugarcane mill in nearby Balayan town to fill the vacuum left by Central Azucarera, which supposedly went bankrupt amid higher sugar importation.
Central Azucarera was a major provider of employment in Nasugbu during its 97 years of operation.
Barcelon said the Balayan Sugar Central is currently undergoing enhancements to accommodate larger capacities.
"Balayan Sugar Central is currently undergoing rehabilitation to increase its processing capacity," he said, noting that Nasugbu's sugarcane is being processed there.
Barcelon further pointed out that farmers who insist on planting sugarcane are finding alternative markets, such as Bukid Verde and Progreen companies, which specialize in ethanol production from sugarcane.
He said he also observed a shift among some farmers to yellow corn production, which serves as animal feed, diversifying their agricultural activities.
To support agricultural resilience, the municipal government has initiated projects to enhance water supply to farmlands, including the construction of check dams along rivers and creeks funded locally, he added.
"Our latest initiative, funded by the LGU (local government unit), involves constructing check dams that have significantly improved cropping seasons, doubling them from one to two per year," Barcelon said. (PNA)
The Philippine News Agency is a web-based newswire service of the Philippine government under the supervision of the News and Information Bureau (NIB) of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).