67th Philsutech convention opens tomorrow

The 67th Annual National Convention of the Philippine Sugar Technologists Associations, Inc. (PHILSUTECH) opens tomorrow, Aug. 25 at Park Inn Hotel, SM City in Bacolod.

This is the first time that the convention returns to Bacolod City after 17 years of being held in Cebu, and the first time that the event is held under a pandemic. Unlike in previous conventions, all activities in this year’s event will be conducted virtually.

Agriculture Sec. William Dar and Tourism Sec. Bernadette Romulo Puyat are the guest speakers during the opening ceremony, while Sugar Regulatory Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica will deliver a report on the sugar supply and demand situation for Crop Year 2020-2021, and the outlook for Crop Year 2021-2022.

Negros Occ. Gov. Eugenio Lacson and Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia will deliver the welcome messages.

The three-day convention will last until August 27, with the theme “Sugarcane Industry: Braving through the Challenges of Times”. The last day will be capped by the general assembly at 9:30 AM of Philsutech members, reports of officers, and the election and induction of the new set of officers.

PHILSUTECH is an organization of sugar technologists, sugarcane farmers, traders, ethanol distillers, biomass power generators, and service and technology providers in the Philippines and other sugar-producing countries.

The association is the leading forum of information exchange on the latest in science, technology and economics of sugar production. Its annual national convention is a much-awaited event which gathers industry stakeholders under one roof, and serves as the venue for the evolution of conceptual solutions to the problems of the industry.

Other resource persons, experts in their respective fields, will also deliver talks on the topics “Embracing the Challenge: PHILSURIN Recommends Suitable Varieties for Specific Mill Districts”, “Workers Safety in the New Normal”, “Cleaner Production in the Sugar Industry: Agro-Recycling of Wastewaters as Fertilizer for Sugarcane”, and “Energy Efficiency and Conservation”.

Traditionally, more than 1,000 sugarcane industry stakeholders from the Philippines and from other sugarcane-producing countries regularly attend the event. Product exhibitors for agricultural and industrial equipment and technologies also showcase their latest offerings during the convention.* (Butch Bacaoco)