Typhoon Tino causes P1.2B losses to Visayas sugar industry

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) estimates over P1.2 billion in losses for the sugar industry in the Visayas due to Typhoon Tino.

This partial assessment covers over 53,000 hectares across Negros Island, Capiz, Iloilo, Leyte, and Cebu, impacting more than 16,000 sugar farmers.

SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona stated that the assessment was only recently conducted after their facilities and personnel recovered from the typhoon's destruction.

Field personnel have been mobilized to conduct a full assessment of damage from both Typhoon Tino and Typhoon Uwan in sugar land areas.

Azcona highlighted that entire fields were decimated, particularly in Negros Occidental, where harvestable canes were flattened and flooded.

Delays in milling are expected as four mills stopped operations for almost a week due to the destruction.

Severely affected areas include the Biscom mill district, with over 20,000 hectares damaged, and the La Carlota mill district, with over 10,000 hectares damaged.