The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), Victorias Milling Company (VMC), Victorias Mill District Development Council (VMDDC), and Florencia Workers Association (FLOWA) signed a joint memorandum of agreement (MOA) to establish a high-yielding variety (HYV) nursery and soils laboratory in Victorias City.
The signing, considered a significant move to revitalize the sugarcane sector in northern Negros, took place on Oct. 7 at the Victorias Golf and Country Club.
The newly established HYV nursery and soils laboratory is expected to become a regional hub for sugarcane innovation, facilitating the development of resilient, high-yield varieties, and advancing scientific approaches to soil health and farm productivity, a statement from the SRA said.
The partnership is in support of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vision and aligns with the Department of Agriculture’s efforts under Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the Philippine sugar industry.
The milestone also represents a collective commitment to the long-term growth and global competitiveness of the sugarcane industry, and reaffirms that sustainable agricultural development is most successful when driven by collaboration across public and private sectors, the SRA added.
Key signatories to the MOA included David Andrew Sanson, SRA board member, on behalf of Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona; Engr. Linley Retirado, president, VMC Inc.; Atty. Eva Rodriguez, VMDDC chairperson and VMC chief administrative officer; Kristine Cabuguason, VMC chief finance officer; Ramon Lavides, president of FLOWA; and Eduardo Deocadez, farm manager of Victorias MDDC.
In his recorded message, Azcona commended the efforts of the VMC and VMDDC.
He stressed the importance of bringing research and laboratory services closer to farmers in northern Negros, a region critical to national sugar production.
Sanson described the initiative as the creation of a “mini La Granja”, referring to the SRA’s flagship research center in La Carlota City.
He noted the move would benefit both farmers and the mill by enhancing productivity and rebuilding the Victorias MDDC’s credibility.
“This is about mutual growth. When farmers succeed, so does the mill,” he said, encouraging all stakeholders to make this a model for other sugar districts.
Rodriguez underscored the strengths each organization brings to the table – SRA for its capability in research and other technical aspects, Victorias Milling Company for its resources, infrastructure and facilities, Victorias Mill District Development Council for its on-the-ground knowledge, and commitment to improving the planters’ capabilities and knowledge on planting.
Starting this crop year, Rodriguez said the facility will promote propagation of higher-yielding cane varieties and provide scientific soil analysis, marking a shift toward more evidence-based, efficient farming practices.
Retirado expressed optimism about restoring the mill’s historical role in planter support.
He recalled how VMC used to provide essential support such as fertilizers, lime, technical assistance, and farm management guidance to planters before such services stopped in 1997.
Retirado further hoped that the partnership would revive VMC’s past agricultural and research services and extend them to planters not only in Victorias City but also in nearby districts.
He also thanked the SRA for its support, emphasizing the importance of “cooperation, collaboration, and execution” in achieving shared goals.
Edward Sarrosa, president of the Rural Sugar Planters Association Inc., also lauded this “long awaited initiative.”
His group, in partnership with VMC for 27 years, covers sugarcane farms from Sagay City to Vallehermoso town.
“Without farmers, there is no industry,” Sarrosa said, thanking the SRA for bringing its services from La Granja to northern Negros. ||
