WHAT this proposal I heard about demolishing all the trees in the man-made forest in Loboc and converting the area into a sugarland by planting sugar cane?
Weird, I would say.
Why?
Let me explain.
* * *
One, when you plant sugarcane, you must have a sugar mill.
This statement came from former Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Administrator Herminigildo Serafica.
He said that it would be a losing game for sugar planters if they don’t have a sugar mill because the cost of transporting the cane to the mill would be tremendous. More so if we talk of Bohol where it is separated by a wide body of water from nearby provinces and the province that has sugar mill is Negros Oriental.
Two, the Cebu experience should have taught the proponent that planting sugar cane is very risky. Sugar farmers in Bogo City and nearby towns like Medellin are now seeking help from the province of Cebu because the old mill plant in the area is no longer operating and they have to transport their canes to Negros Occidental.
Tiyabaw sila kay dako kaayo og gasto ang paghakot. And because of that, they are now abandoning sugar cane and intend to shift to corn or other crops. To think that they have been on this activity for many years now.
Unya karon, mao na pod ni ato buhaton sa Bohol?
* * *
Third, how certain is the proponent that the area he intends to convert to sugar land is fit and suited for sugarcane? Did he conduct a study before making the proposal?
Fourth, and this is very important, there are many areas in Bohol that are still idle and un-utilized for many years now, why not use this for sugar land instead of annihilating all the trees in the man-made forest?
Fifth, the trees have been there for many years, absorbing pollution and converting them into breathable air for all of us, protecting the soil from erosion and defending the surrounding areas from storms and other natural calamities. Unya karon, silotan sila pinaagi sa pagputol ug pagpatay nilang tanan?
Pagka way puangod pod nato no?
* * *
Anyway, I’m sure the proponent has his reasons. And I don’t suppose this idea just came from thin air.
Gitun-an gyod pod seguro ni.
So for all intents and purposes, I am now registering my full opposition, objection and rejection of the plan. As been said, there are many ways to skin a cat.
If the problem is lack of sugar supply, erasing the man-made forest from the face of the Earth is definitely out of line and not a solution. There are other ways to address the lack of supply and in fact, the BBM government has already given the go-signal for sugar importation.
* * *
If there is no more Coke or other soft drinks in the market, I am not bothered one bit.
I’ve skipped drinking them for many years now and I’ve been able to disprove rumors that you really need them to help digest meat and kinilaw. Pwede ra man diay og water ray imnon after eating kinilaw or meat.
But one thing that bothers me is the suspension of operation of bottling plants because of its deleterious effects to the workers, especially the daily wage ones.
Kon way trabaho, way sweldo. Kon way sweldo, unsaon na man lang ang panginahanglan sa pamilya?
Pero kanang way supply sa Coke, bahala og mag-permanente na.
