• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The proposed amendments to the Sugarcane Industry Development Act (SIDA) of 2015 are set to be discussed by the House Committee on Agriculture before Congress adjourns on June 5, according to Negros Occidental 3rd District Representative Javier Miguel Benitez.
Benitez disclosed on Thursday that the discussions will focus on House Bill No. 9088, or the Tunay na Ugnayan, Buhay, at Oportunidad sa Asukal (TUBO) Act of 2026, which seeks to introduce major reforms in the Philippine sugar industry, including amendments to the existing SIDA law.
The proposed measure aims to strengthen the regulatory powers of the Sugar Regulatory Administration by expanding its authority beyond sugar, to include sugar substitutes such as high-fructose corn syrup and other caloric and non-caloric sweeteners.
According to Benitez, the bill seeks to address regulatory gaps that industry stakeholders believe have contributed to oversupply and market distortions caused by excessive importation, which in turn have depressed farmgate sugar prices.
The lawmaker noted that the proposed reforms also aim to protect local sugar producers and stabilize the domestic sugar market, amid continuing concerns over declining prices and competition from imported sweeteners.
The TUBO Act also seeks to amend the Sugarcane Industry Development Act of 2015, which was authored by former Negros Occidental congressman and now Bacolod City Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, the father of Javier Miguel Benitez.
A counterpart measure has likewise been filed in the Senate by Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito.
Both the House and Senate proposals have gained support from various stakeholders in the sugar industry, who are pushing for stronger safeguards and policy reforms to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector.*
