DIRECTORY 2011 Edited 4-11.indd - Negros Occidental

conomic Developmentconomic omDevelopmente e• Advocate Multi– or Rotational– Cropping in the Sugar Industry• Develop Other Sources of Renewable Energy/Support Implementation of the Bio-FuelsLaw• Increase Local Revenue Utilizing the Corporate Personality of the ProvinceNegros Occidental is the Philippines’ major sugar producer, contributing over half of thecountry’s total production. Some 54 percent of its agricultural land is sugarcane-based, andraw sugar is its leading traditional export product.Other countries like Thailand, however, have eaten into Negros Occidental’s worldmarket for sugar with their lower priced product, thus threatening not just our export incomebut the stability of the industry itself.To enhance sustainability of the sugar industry, there is a need to introducemulti-cropping or rotational cropping in the sugar industry. This we will advocate to ourplanters who are actually open to the idea of diversication. They could plant corn and othercrops with their sugarcane as this would help maintain a healthy soil to ensure continued farmproductivity, in addition to being another source of income as well. A cursory computationshows that a planter could earn as much as Php50,000 for 10 tons of corn as compared with ameager P16,800 for some 10 tons of sugarcane.We also support the thrust towards production of bio-ethanol from sugarcane, as well asother biofuel like jatropha oil.Power plays a very crucial role in the economic development of the province. Thisrequires additional investments in power projects to have an equitable balance betweendemand and supply to avert power crisis in the near future. In line with this, we will encouragethe exploration and establishment of renewable sources of energy, especially hydro-electricprojects making use of our six major rivers.To further spur economic development and to increase local revenues, the provincialgovernment could make use of its corporate personality to do business. The 1991 LGC allowsLGUs to invest in business, with a 51 to 49 percent sharing, the government being the minorityshareholder. For instance, it could put up collateral for loans to be used in tourism investmentthat will be run by the private sector.