In the last 35 years, Universal Robina Corporation’s (URC) sugar mill in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental, has transformed from a singular sugar production facility to a thriving ecosystem.
Now known as SONEDCO, it has become an integral part of the community, impacting lives not just through economic opportunities but also through social development and a sense of belonging.
“This is an ecosystem, a community of farmers, people, business and technology. URC is not just doing business here. We are a resident of this place already,” said URC Sugar and Renewables (SURE) managing director Renato Cabati.
URC acquired SONEDCO in 1989, inheriting a mill capable of crushing 4,000 tons of sugarcane daily. As SONEDCO embarked on a journey of expansion and diversification, its sugarcane crushing capacity doubled in the mid-1990s, reaching 8,000 tons per day.
Today, it processes an impressive 12,000 tons daily, with its refinery producing 15,000 bags of refined sugar. This growth reflects SONEDCO’s commitment to efficiency and maximizing its potential.
SONEDCO’s impact extends beyond sugar production. It has become a vital partner to the community, supporting farmers and fostering a sense of belonging.
Luis Azcona of San Lucas Inc. testifies to this, stating that the mill’s partnership has led to “better participation, better efficiency, and more money per ton” of sugarcane they mill.
For many farmers like Grace Saglaon, the mill provided a lifeline, sustaining income that has enabled her to send three children to college.
For generations of families like Mary Kathlyn Tarroza’s and Mary Grace Cayao’s, SONEDCO has been more than just a workplace – it has become a second home. Their fathers, both dedicated employees, instilled in them a deep sense of pride and belonging to the SONEDCO family.
URC President and CEO Irwin Lee recognizes the optimism and positive spirit that permeates SONEDCO. This positive outlook fuels a shared vision for further growth, with the immediate goal of expanding the mill’s capacity to 14,000 tons per day.
URC chairman Lance Gokongwei said the sugar company will continue sustain the flow of investments, ensuring that partner farmers attain the highest productivity and highest income they can generate from their farms.
“We will likewise ensure that our mills are as efficient and as productive as they can be, while investing in facilities for value-added services, such as sugar refineries, bio-mass energy production, and bio-ethanol and CO2 production,” he said.