• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he and the mayors of Negros Occidental are calling on sugar groups and federations, as well as industry leaders to come together and agree on a unified position, amid the continued plummet of sugar millgate prices.
As the country’s sugar capital and as a province whose economy is significantly anchored on the strength and stability of the sugar industry, it is vital that we present a single and cohesive stand before elevating our concerns to the national government, said Lacson, who is also a sugar planter.
The governor made the appeal as stakeholders have sought the help of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to address the spiraling downtrend of sugar prices in the past several weeks.
Millgate prices of raw sugar, as of the first week of December this year, were averaging around P2,100 to P2,200 per 50 LKg, compared to fetching as high as P3,000 to P3,700 in previous years.
The P2,100 price point is a level that sugar producers consider below break-even, which has prompted calls for government intervention.
Together, let us act with firm determination to safeguard the livelihood of our farmers, workers and communities, Lacson said in a statement issued by the provincial government of Negros Occidental.
Negros Occidental 5th District Representative Emilio Bernardino Yulo urged all sugar stakeholders “to stop bickering and help address the situation.” Yulo also called on the SRA to “institute immediate measures to arrest the downward trend.”
Yulo noted that most of the bickering is coming from the millers and big planters, many of whom can actually afford to wait till prices improve.
The Confederation of Sugar Producers Association (CONFED) Inc., disclosed in a statement that millgate prices dropped sharply during the first week of milling, and have continued to decline amid weak buyer interest.
From late September to November, revenue losses from sugar and molasses totaled P3.89 billion compared to the same period in 2024.
Data from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) confirmed that total foregone revenues reached P4.21 billion as of November 23.
Most of the losses were borne by producers in Negros Island, the country’s top sugar-producing region.
CONFED earlier projected that if left unaddressed, industry losses could climb to P23.3 billion for Crop Year 2025–2026.*
