NEGROS Occidental Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer said he will conduct consultations with various sugar refineries in the province to “restart their operation as soon as possible” amid rumors of a sugar supply shortage.

“There have been reports that low sugar stocks are due to hoarding, but this is an allegation that needs to be verified first. On the other hand, if indeed true, I will reach out to various refineries in the province if they are willing to open their mills to refine raw sugar in order to address the perceived shortage in the market,” Ferrer said in a statement on Tuesday.

He added that he was confident a solution would be presented soon as “we have a president-elect who has made agriculture among his priority programs.”

Nevertheless, Ferrer said that while everyone was waiting for the appointment of other Cabinet members, including those who will serve under the Department of Agriculture, “we have to hit the ground running and prepare for the coming crop year by ensuring that we will have sufficient sugar supply in the coming months.”

In support of Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson’s program for food security and sustainability, Ferrer said he would conduct consultations with various agriculture stakeholders in the sugar industry, and rice and vegetable growers in the province.

“One important factor in the preparatory phase for all agricultural products, including sugar, has been answered by the governor through maximum and efficient utilization of water. Dredging waterways to bring water to our farms is a back-to-basics approach but we need it badly if we want a more productive crop year in light of steep farm input prices, particularly fuel and fertilizers,” he added.

Like other provincial officials, Ferrer said that he hopes the next Sugar Regulatory administrator “will come from our province but I would like to defer that decision to our president-elect and incoming DA secretary. We will fully support President [Ferdinand] Marcos’ [Jr.] appointment.”

However, he said that it would be ideal if the SRA is headed by an industry veteran and can unify stakeholders.