The Victorias Milling Company finally released the planters’ shares it withheld since 2018, after a two-year insistence by the Vicmico Planters Association Inc.
These shares were withheld without any order and authority from the Sugar Regulatory Administration, the Department of Labor and Employment, or from the court, Jose Ma. Montinola, Vicmico PAI vice president, said in a press release Jan. 30.
The corresponding increase in the planters’ share is in accordance with Republic Act 809 where the sharing should be 70/30 percent in favor of the planters.
The Vicmico PAI said the release of the amount, that it did not specify, by VMC proved that, all along, the Association was legally right to demand payment. “However, figures and amounts released by VMC are still subject to validation by the association,” it added.
Engr. Lynette Jover, manager of Vicmico PAI, said in the press release that on Jan. 11, the Lucio Tan-controlled VMC paid millions of pesos due to planters of Negros and other associations milling with them.
“What was issued, so far, however, is only a meager portion of their rightful claims. This is because there appears to be no transparency on the part of VMC. It is not clear if storage charges were deducted from the amount (it paid the planters). The check voucher did not even reflect as to how many LKG is involved and how the price is computed,” Jover added. — MML
