• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
Negros Occidental 4th District Representative Jeffrey Ferrer challenged the leadership of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to address the significant decline in sugar millgate prices in the province.
During the public consultation held on Jan. 23 at Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City, Ferrer called on the two agencies to develop concrete solutions to raise the current millgate prices “to protect the livelihood of thousands of sugar farmers.”
“I am not frustrated. It is an additional challenge to the administration. Sixty-five percent of the sugar in the country is produced by Negros Occidental. Imagine how many farmers are affected,” the solon said, emphasizing that the obligation of the two agencies is “to protect the livelihood of how many families rely on this business.”
Ferrer also recalled that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expressed that the price for sugar should be set at least P3,000 per 50-kilo bag.
“They [SRA] have this obligation and authority, even the DA. This is not about creating chaos; this is a challenge. They must find a way to increase the price. Simple as that,” he stressed.
Fifth District Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo, during a press conference, said that the recent issue with sugar prices has directly affected about 90,000 farmers in the province, with around 80 to 90 percent being small farmers.
“I think no farmers are exempt from the low sugar millgate prices, especially since sugar is only bidding below the production cost,” Yulo stated.
The public consultation was hosted by Third District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez and was led by Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform Chairperson Sen. Kiko Pangilinan and House Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairperson Rep. Mark Enverga.
The activity aimed to discuss the urgent challenges faced by the sugar industry, particularly the sharp decline in millgate sugar prices, and to explore possible policy measures and sectoral responses.*
