SRA pegs typhoon damage to sugar at PHP1.2 billion

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has estimated over PHP1.2 billion in initial damage to the sugar industry in the Visayas due to Typhoon Tino.

SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said Friday that the partial assessment covers more than 53,000 hectares of sugarcane farms affected across the mill districts of Negros Island, Capiz, Iloilo, Leyte, and Cebu.

The damage has impacted more than 16,000 sugar farmers in these areas, according to Azcona.

He said the assessment only began after the SRA’s research facilities and field personnel recovered from the typhoon’s impact.

SRA teams have also been dispatched to assess areas hit by Typhoon Uwan to provide a comprehensive view of the total damage caused by both storms.

Azcona said the 4th and 5th districts of Negros Occidental were among the worst hit, with harvest-ready sugarcane fields either flattened or submerged in floodwaters.

“We can only hope these fields will recover,” Azcona said.

Operations in at least four sugar mills were disrupted for nearly a week due to structural and operational damage, including those in La Carlota City and Binalbagan.

These mills were forced to halt operations temporarily but have since resumed.

Azcona described Typhoon Tino as “one of the strongest storms and among the heaviest flooding we experienced in the last two decades.”

He said the disaster worsened the challenges faced by the sugar sector, which is already battling a ratoon stunting syndrome infestation.

He added that flooding in some areas may have been intensified by ash and lahar from recent Mt. Kanlaon ashfalls, which clogged rivers and drainage systems.

To aid recovery, the SRA has begun procuring fertilizers for distribution to heavily affected areas and sugar planters’ associations.

Among the worst-hit sugar areas were those under the BISCOM mill district, which includes Himamaylan City and the towns of Isabela, Binalbagan, Hinigaran, and Moises Padilla.

Over 20,000 hectares of sugar lands in this area were severely damaged, the SRA said.

Other hard-hit mill districts include La Carlota, San Carlos, Sagay–Danao, and Ma-ao in Central Negros.

Azcona warned that the figures could increase significantly as further assessments are completed.

He said the initial projected loss includes at least 500,000 bags of raw sugar, not counting damage to molasses production.

Despite the scale of destruction, Azcona expressed hope and urged cooperation among industry stakeholders.

“There is no better time than now for all stakeholders to come together to ensure that no one is left behind,” he said. “We must remain steadfast as a united sugar industry.”