By CESAR JOLITO III
The Bacolod City government has issued a health advisory and tightened regulations on donated food after a “foreign object” was discovered in cups of arroz caldo distributed at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) on Friday, January 16.
City Administrator Mark Mayo said the advisory applies to employees of the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) and clients processing permits at BCGC who may have consumed the donated food.
Those who experience stomach discomfort or related symptoms are urged to seek immediate medical consultation.
The advisory followed a report by a BPLO staff member who found what was described as a “black, solid material with an unpleasant odor” in one of the cups of arroz caldo.
The food distribution reportedly started at around 9:00 a.m., while the foreign object was discovered about an hour later. An estimated 300 servings of arroz caldo were prepared and distributed.
As of this writing, city officials have reported no confirmed cases of food-related illness, including from the employee who discovered the object.
Individuals experiencing symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, or stomachache were advised to seek immediate care.
To ensure accessibility to medical services, the City Health Office in Burgos remained open over the weekend to accommodate precautionary consultations.
City officials said around 200 employees have already visited the CHO satellite office for preventive consultations, with no complications recorded so far.
Meanwhile, Mayo clarified that the fork used when the object was noticed belonged to the office, while the food containers were provided by the donor.
He stressed that the advisory was issued in the interest of transparency and public safety.
Results out in three days
Assistant City Health Officer Dr. Grace Tan, head of the City Health Office’s Environmental Sanitation Division, said the object has been submitted for laboratory examination, with results expected within three days.
The exact nature and origin of the material remain undetermined pending the results.
Mayo emphasized that there is “no cause for public alarm,” adding that the city government is closely monitoring the situation.
He also disclosed that the donor voluntarily submitted the foreign object for analysis and that the public will be promptly informed should laboratory results indicate any health risk.
In response to the incident, Mayo issued a memorandum regulating the acceptance and distribution of donated food within the BCGC.
Authorities noted that the same donor had previously provided similar food without incident./CJ, WDJ
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Sanson urges unity, long-term reforms to stabilize sugar industry
By CESAR JOLITO III
Sugar Board member David Sanson called on sugar farmers and planter federations to unite and pursue long-term solutions to address persistent challenges in the sugar industry, including production costs, pricing, marketing, and pest infestation.
Representing sugar planters, Sanson said recent improvements in sugar and molasses prices offer a positive sign for the sector, following months of prices that failed to meet break-even levels for many farmers, especially small-scale producers.
“We are grateful that prices of sugar and molasses have gone up in the past couple of weeks, with the northern mills showing significant increases, and we hope that the southern mills will soon follow the trend,” Sanson said.
He noted that last week’s bidding prices rose to between P2,300 and P2,400 per 50-kilogram bag, while molasses prices breached P9,000 per metric ton after remaining at P2,100 to P2,200 for more than three months.
Sanson attributed the price recovery largely to the export program approved by the Sugar Board, explaining that the plan had been formulated as early as November.
However, he said some federations and stakeholders opposed the initiative, instead pushing for a declaration from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) and the Department of Agriculture to suspend sugar importation until December 2026.
“That approach was proven to be a total failure,” Sanson said, adding that the Sugar Board proceeded with the export program despite opposition.
“Now, farmers are reaping the benefits of better sugar and molasses prices,” he added.
Can’t afford low prices
He stressed that the industry could not afford a repeat of the past three months when depressed prices severely affected farmers’ livelihoods.
“We cannot, and must not, sacrifice our planter-members’ welfare just because some groups have their own agenda,” Sanson said.
“We must unite, work on a long-term plan to maintain equitable prices, be more open-minded, and set aside our differences for the good of the sugar industry,” he pointed out.
Sanson also called on mill districts to strengthen coordination with the SRA in addressing the spread of red-striped soft scale insect which continues to threaten sugarcane production.
He said some mills are already helping produce and distribute effective fungicides to farmers but emphasized the need for broader support from all mills and local government units in sugar-producing areas.
As head of the SRA’s research and development arm, Sanson said the agency has the technology and manpower to assist mill districts through training and field deployment.
He added that fertilizers have already been distributed to several districts, with more assistance underway to help mitigate the effects of the infestation.
“Our focus should be on collaboration and long-term solutions to ensure the sustainability of the sugar industry and protect the welfare of our farmers,” Sanson said./CJ, WDJ