Cebu's sugar industry at a critical juncture

In the heart of the Philippines, the province of Cebu has been grappling with challenges in its sugar industry. The closure of the Bogo-Medellin Milling Company (Bomedco) in 2023 and the subsequent lack of a nearby mill for farmers like Roel Sanchez has left many in a difficult position.

Bomedco, founded in 1928, was once the backbone of northern Cebu's sugar industry, but its production has significantly declined over the years. From 600,000 bags in the early 2000s to just 80,000 bags by 2021, the mill's struggles are a stark reminder of the challenges facing the industry.

Sanchez, who has been planting sugarcane for over 20 years in Medellin, Cebu, now faces the challenge of shipping at least 30 metric tons of cane to earn a profit, with shipping costs amounting to at least P9,000 per ten-wheeler truck. This is a heavy burden for small-scale farmers like him.

However, there is a glimmer of hope in the form of the "Sugbo Maisan" program, launched by the Cebu Provincial Government and the Department of Agriculture (DA) 7 in 2022. This initiative promotes yellow corn as an alternative crop for small-scale sugarcane farmers. Imelda Perolina Noynay of Caputatan Sur, Medellin, is one such farmer who has shifted to yellow corn after cane returns dwindled. She finds yellow corn capable of matching sugarcane's income with two harvests a year.

By 2024, the yellow corn area had doubled to 2,107 hectares, producing 6,449 metric tons. While this represents just 3.2 percent of Central Visayas' 65,676 hectares of corn land, it is a step in the right direction.

However, political uncertainty looms over the future of the "Sugbo Maisan" program. As a flagship program of former governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who lost in May 2025, it's unclear if government support will continue with the new leadership.

Another issue is the declining membership in local associations and the conversion of agricultural lots to residential areas. Alfonso 'Al' Lim, president of the Bogo-Medellin Sugarcane Planters Association Inc., argues that the problem lies not in the cane itself but in the lack of government investment. He believes that if farms and equipment were modernized, sugarcane could still be profitable.

Lim insists that modernization, including mechanization, is the only way to revive Medellin's sugar industry as manual labor is no longer attractive to the youth. The provincial government has provided planters, dryers, and soft loans, guaranteeing a purchase price of P15 per kilo for wet corn, nearly double the market rate.

However, the funds for the modernization of the sugarcane industry in the northern parts of Cebu have not yet been utilized due to bureaucratic delays and lack of proper implementation plans. Sustained government backing will determine if yellow corn becomes a true success story or if the sugar industry can be revived.

In the face of these challenges, the resilience and determination of farmers like Sanchez and Noynay shines through. As they navigate the complexities of the industry, they hold onto the hope that better days are ahead for Cebu's sugar farmers.