THE Philippine Sugar Technologists Associations, Inc. (Philsutech) will hold the 67th Philsutech Annual National Convention virtually from August 25 to 27, 2021 at Bacolod City, with the theme “Sugarcane Industry: Braving through the Challenges of Times.”

Traditionally, more than 1,000 sugarcane industry stakeholders from the Philippines and from other sugarcane-producing countries regularly attend the event.

Sugar millers, ethanol distillers, biopower generators, farmers, traders and suppliers convene to exchange innovative ideas and the latest technological advances in the sugarcane industry.

Product exhibitors for agricultural and industrial equipment and technologies also showcase their latest offerings during the event.

“Considering the existing pandemic, our Officers and Board of Directors decided that the convention will be conducted in a hybrid format to adapt to the present health scenario,” said Miss Haydee V. Rivera, Philsutech corporate secretary and administrative officer.

“We will accommodate a maximum of 50 participants to attend physically, provided that they have completed the two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, and they have the certification or vaccine pass to prove it. The rest of the participants have to attend virtually,” she added.

Rivera further said National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua and Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat were invited to grace the convention, but the two department secretaries still have to confirm their attendance.

Industry stakeholders are likewise looking forward to the traditional annual report by Sugar Regulatory Administrator Hermenegildo R. Serafica on the latest developments in the industry, the sugar supply and demand situation for the current crop year, and what stakeholders can look forward to in the coming crop year.

“The Philsutech Secretariat will soon announce how members can register online so that they can join the convention and other activities physically or virtually. For clarifications and other information, interested parties may contact the Philsutech Secretariat thru telephone number 434 8127 or email philsutech@gmail.com,” Rivera said. (PR)