Manila: The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has mobilized assistance for sugarcane farmers in the Visayas, as initial industry losses from Typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi) have exceeded PHP1.2 billion.
According to Philippines News Agency, SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona stated that Typhoon Tino, which struck Negros Island and nearby regions on November 4, was one of the most significant storms with severe flooding impacting the sugar industry in the last two decades. The industry is already contending with challenges such as the red-striped soft-scale insect infestation. Azcona mentioned that the SRA has initiated the procurement of fertilizers to support severely impacted farmers, and these will soon be distributed to mill districts and sugar associations.
An initial assessment indicated that Typhoon Tino damaged over 53,000 hectares of sugarcane farms in mill districts across Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Capiz, Iloilo, Leyte, and Cebu, affecting at least 16,000 farmers. Negros Occidental, the leading sugar-producing province in the country, was hit hardest, with more than 30,000 hectares of sugarlands severely damaged in two mill districts. These include farms under the Binalbagan-Isabela Sugar Company mill district, where 20,000 hectares suffered extensive damage, and the La Carlota mill district, where about 10,000 hectares were affected. Additional damage reports came from the San Carlos and Ma-ao mill districts.
Azcona expressed concern over the devastation, noting that entire fields, particularly in the fourth and fifth districts of Negros Occidental, were decimated. Harvestable canes were flattened and flooded, raising concerns about the fields' recovery. He also mentioned that SRA has deployed field personnel to conduct a comprehensive assessment of all affected areas, including those impacted by Typhoon Uwan, to gauge the full extent of the damage to sugarlands. The SRA chief anticipates a conservative production decrease of at least 500,000 bags of raw sugar this crop year, and expects the numbers to grow following the full assessment.
Operational disruptions are also expected, with delays in milling for the 2025-2026 crop year due to the temporary shutdown of four sugar mills for nearly a week because of typhoon damage. Sugar mills in La Carlota City and Binalbagan were closed for a week before resuming operations. Azcona emphasized the importance of unity among stakeholders to support each other and ensure no one is left behind in these challenging times.
