PGMA pushes upgrading of Antique’s muscovado sugar industry
Wednesday, May 24, 2006 @ 7:14 pmTUESDAY, APRIL 25, 2006, PANDAN, Antique - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is pushing for the upgrading of the muscovado sugar industry in this province to boost production and promotion of the health food under the government’s One Town One Product Program.
Through the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the President extended today financial assistance worth P85,000 each to eight muscovado sugar mill operators in this province to upgrade their equipment and technology.
The recipients of the financial aid were Jonathan Bantolo Muscovado Mill in Guisijan, Laua-an; Lanayon Muscovado Mill in Casit-an, Laua-an; Fab’s Sugar Mill in San Rafael, Patnongon; Tigbalogo Mini-sugar Mill in Patnongon;
Arsenio Tongca Sugar Mill in Laua-an; Natan Muscovado Mill in Laua-an; D. Jura la Muscovado Mill in Lugta, Laua-an; and B. Juayno Muscovado Mill in Guimbanggaan, Laua-an.
The President told Antiquenos she’s looking forward to the further improvement of the muscovado industry. With its hotels and souvenir shops, Boracay, the world famous tourist destination in the neighboring Aklan province, would be a big market for muscovado, she said.
The President said all goods sold in the island paradise should be produced in Panay Island and not anywhere else.
“Through the One Town, One Product Program, it is easier to sell a product produced only in one area instead of many products developed in one area,” the President said.
Local officials here said that of the 140 muscovado sugar mills operating in the province, the products of only three millers passed export quality standards.
Laua-an Mayor Aser Baldjay, whose town hosts 120 muscovado sugar mills, said the provincial government plans to centralize the production of the signature brown sugar.
“We need one big sugar mill to ensure quality control in the processing and packaging of our product. We aim to hit the export market in a big way,” he said.
Baldjay also said that with the assistance coming from the government, the muscovado sugar farmers will be able to acquire high technology milling equipment and do away with the traditional cooking vat-shovel-stainless utensil operations.
In the 1970s, Antique produced 75 percent of the country’s muscovado sugar before the local farmers started shifting to planting rice when sugar prices in the world market hit rock bottom.
Source:
WWW.GOV.PH
PGMA pushes upgrading of Antique’s muscovado sugar industry
Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at 9:24 am
My grandfather and his brothers owned the first muscovado sugar mill in Jinalinan, Bugasong, Antique some 60 years ago. My father, Celestino R. Sta. Romana, Sr., also put up a muscovadeo sugar mill in Laua-an which is now being managed by my uncle. We inherited a second muscovado mill in Sitio Lagdo, Sibalom, Antiques, which we fund every year. The people of Lagdo suffer from poor roads, and until my father established his pioneering sugar mill 25 years ago, the place was in a pitiable state. Now, there are around 8 mills operating. I am interested in upgrading our muscovado mill to ensure quality standards. I wonderif the government can extend a oan with low interest rates and what agency can I approach to guide us in this endeavor? We would also appreciate more knowledge input.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at 9:31 am
My grandfather owned the first muscovado sugar mill in Jinalinan, Bugasong, Antique some 60 years ago. My father, Celestino R. Sta. Romana, established a muscovado mill in nearby Laua-an which is now being managed by my uncle. We inherited a second mill from my father in Sitio Lagdo, Sibalom, Antique which we fund every year. Lagdo sufferes from poor roads. The people are mostly poor and illiterate and until my father put up his muscovado mill some 20 years ago, the place was in a pitiable state. Now, there are around eight sugar mills oprating, but the roads still need much improvement. In memory of my father, we would like to improve the muscovado mill to pass quality standards. I wonder if the government can grant us a soft loan for this purpose and we also need sufficient information on upgrading the mill.
Saturday, March 1, 2008 at 5:55 am
My father Doroteo P. Legaspi owned a muscovado sugar mill located in the Ilaya, Bugasong Antique and also one in Manlacbo, Valderrama, Antique. I would also like to know if how the government can help us because I am very interested in upgrading our milling standards and how our government can support small producers like us.