Bacolod City: The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), Victorias Milling Company (VMC), the Victorias Mill District Development Council (VMDDC), and the Florencia Workers Association (FLOWA) have signed a Joint Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to establish a High-Yielding Variety (HYV) Nursery and Soils Laboratory in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, reports Panay News.
The signing ceremony, held on October 7 at the Victorias Golf and Country Club, marks a key initiative to boost the sugarcane industry in Northern Negros. The project supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s agricultural development vision and aligns with the Department of Agriculture’s efforts under Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to strengthen the country’s sugar sector.
The new HYV Nursery and Soils Laboratory will serve as a regional hub for sugarcane research and innovation. It aims to develop high-yield, resilient varieties and promote scientific soil management to improve productivity and sustainability.
The agreement underscores a strong public-private partnership to ensure the long-term growth and global competitiveness of the Philippine sugar industry.
Key signatories included SRA Board Member David Andrew Sanson, representing Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona; VMC President Engr. Linley Retirado; VMDDC Chairperson and VMC Chief Administrative Officer Atty. Eva Rodriguez; VMC Chief Finance Officer Kristine Cabuguason; FLOWA President Ramon Lavides; and Victorias MDDC Farm Manager Eduardo Deocadez.
In a recorded message, Azcona commended VMC and VMDDC for their collaboration, stressing the importance of making research and laboratory services more accessible to farmers in Northern Negros—a vital sugar-producing region.
Sanson described the project as a “mini La Granja,” referencing the SRA’s main research center in La Carlota City. He said the initiative will help improve both farm and mill productivity while restoring the Victorias MDDC’s credibility. “This is about mutual growth. When farmers succeed, so does the mill,” he said, encouraging all partners to make the project a model for other districts.
Rodriguez highlighted the value of the partnership, noting that each organization contributes distinct strengths: “SRA provides research and technical expertise, VMC offers resources and facilities, and VMDDC brings local knowledge and planter support.” She said the collaboration reflects a shared goal of improving the sugarcane industry.
Starting this crop year, the facility will propagate improved cane varieties and offer scientific soil analysis, promoting data-driven and efficient farming practices. Retirado expressed optimism that the project will help restore the mill’s traditional role in supporting farmers and strengthening the sugarcane sector in Northern Negros.
