SEN. Imee Marcos, one of the vice-chairs of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food & Agrarian Reform, and chair of four other committees, will be the guest of honor and keynote speaker during the opening of the 69th Annual National Convention of the Philippine Sugar Technologists Association (Philsutech) on Aug. 23 at Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City.
Sugar Regulatory Administrator Pablo Luis S. Azcona will also deliver his message after the address of Sen. Marcos, while Tourism Assistant Secretary Christopher V. Morales will be the guest of honor and speaker during the opening of the Philsutech Product Exhibits on Aug. 22.
With the theme “Gearing Towards a Competitive Sugarcane Industry to Adapt to the Changing Global Situation”, the Philsutech convention is slated August 22 to 25. It is a much-awaited annual gathering, where all industry stakeholders converge to exchange ideas and experiences in their respective fields of expertise, as well as renew friendships and establish new contacts in the industry.
The first day of the convention (Aug. 22) tees off with a friendly golf tournament at the Cebu Country Club among Philsutech members, sponsors, product exhibitors and guests. The opening of the product exhibits follows in the afternoon.
Formal opening of the convention is on Aug. 23. After the respective speeches of Marcos and Azcona, plenary sessions will be conducted.
Topics for the plenary sessions are “How can SRA-JIRCAS (Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences) Collaborative Project Contribute to Develop Sustainable Cultivation System”, “Climate Mitigation for El Niño and BMO (beneficial microorganisms) Production and Distribution” and “Renewable Energy”.
On Aug. 24, the Sugar Regulatory Administration will report on national sugar production and consumption for the current crop year, as well as industry projections for the coming crop year. On the final day (Aug. 25), Philsutech will hold its Annual General Membership Assembly, where members will elect the new set of officers.
The convention also offers technical sessions in the fields of Agriculture & Farm Engineering, Sugar Process, Management, Bioenergy & Environmental Management and Factory Engineering. Moreover, winners for the Search for the Best Technical Paper, the Don Carlos L. Locsin Award and the Outstanding Sugar Practitioner Award will be disclosed and awarded.
No less than 1,000 delegates are expected to join the confab. Most of the participants are from the Philippines, but numerous delegates from other sugar-producing countries also usually attend the event./PN
