Integrated Sugarcane Growers holds annual general assembly

THE Integrated Sugarcane Growers of Negros Incorporated (ISGNI) held its 2nd Anniversary and Annual General Assembly last Saturday at the Social Hall of the NFSP Skills Training Center at the NFSP Compound, Alijis, Bacolod City.

Enrique D. Rojas, ISGNI president and concurrent president of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP), Inc., thanked the hundreds of sugarcane farmers from Bacolod, Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto who attended the assembly.

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"Our association has posted a favorable margin in our operations and we have also grown in terms of membership and production," Rojas stated in his report. He cited the completion of the association's two-storey commercial building in Mansilingan, Bacolod as one of the substantial accomplishments of ISGNI.

Rojas told the planters that they are all welcome to visit the association's office, which occupies majority of the second floor of the new commercial building. The office of the Bacolod-Murcia Mill District Development Council (MDDC) has transferred from its old office and it is now housed in the same building where the ISGNI office is located.

"It is your office. It was built to serve all of you," he added.

Cooperative chairman Primo Esleyer provided updates on coop operations, particularly the problem on availing of the Value Added Tax exemption. He informed the members that the sugar coops are working on solutions to the problem.

MDDC chairman Baldomiro Rio, Jr. and MDDC coordinator Enrique M. Rojas Jr. reported on the accomplishments of the MDDC in providing assistance to the planters. Among the MDDC's programs were distribution of high-yielding sugarcane varieties, provision of tractor and truck services, and disease prevention and control measures.

The members were also encouraged by the association president to avail of the services of the farm equipment of the MDDC, particularly the tractors. He explained that the use of tractors can help improve the farmers' production. Moreover, rental fees of the MDDC tractors are lower than commercial rates.

Daring the assembly, four beneficiaries of the association's Educational Assistance Program were awarded the checks representing their scholarship subsidies. The beneficiaries are all dependents of farmer-members of ISGNI. They are college students in currently enrolled in different universities in the city.

"Thank you very much to the officers of ISGNI headed by Mr. Enrique D. Rojas for this educational assistance. The EDAP scholarship is a big help to us, the students, and to our parents," said April Oyco Monterola in behalf of the beneficiaries. She is a resident of Murcia and is presently enrolled in BS Accountancy at Carlos Hilado Memorial State College.

The assembly was highlighted by the raffle of door prizes. Numerous gift items were given away to those who were present. The major prizes consisted of a colored television set and a refrigerator while the major prize was a carabao is worth more than P30,000.00.

Rodel Merin of Minoyan, Murcia was the lucky winner of the working animal. He expressed his gratitude to the association, saying that the carabao will be a big help to him in his farm.

"With your support and cooperation, we look forward to the greater growth of our association. Hopefully during our assembly next year, our membership and our production will continue to increase," Rojas said.