• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Lawmakers in sugar producing provinces shared the sentiments of industry stakeholders on the need for amendments to the Sugar Regulatory Administration charter, to regulate the importation of artificial sweeteners, which is causing harm and damage to the sugar industry.
Sugar Regulatory Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona yesterday admitted that the SRA has no regulatory policy on the entry of artificial sweeteners into the country.
During the congressional inquiry on the status of sugar industry, following the drastic drop in millgate prices of sugar to as low as its production cost, Azcona revealed that 1,700 metric tons of artificial sweeteners annually enter the country, which is equivalent to 750,000 to 800,000 metric tons of sugar, noting that imported chemical artificial sweeteners are 200 to 500 times sweeter than sugar.
Representative Emilio Bernardino Yulo, vice chairperson of the House committee on Agriculture, disclosed that artificial sweeteners displaces the locally-produced sugar.
Bukidnon Rep. Audrey Zubiri joined Negros lawmakers, including Reps. Emilio Bernardino Yulo, Javier Miguel Benitez, Mercedes Alvarez, and Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Manuel Frederick Ko, who were present during the congressional inquiry, aired their support to regulate the entry of artificial sweeteners into the country, and supported amendments of the SRA charter.
While SRA had a policy on sugar substitutes in 2025, Azcona said it was only geared towards gathering accurate importation data.
While it helps to regulate the entry of sugar substitutes, he said it did not touch other purely chemical artificial sweeteners.
Azcona stressed the need for another policy for other groups of sweeteners.
Yulo also suggested the SRA to require those importing artificial sweeteners to buy a corresponding volume of local sugar.
Former Negros Occidental Gov. Rafael Coscolluela, who once served as SRA administrator, admitted that they are running against time in the pursuit of proposed legislative measures, noting that by June or July, lawmakers will focus on the proposed 2027 budget.
Among the proposed measures they are pushing include the revision of the Sugar Industry Development Act, to promote viability and sustainability of the sugar industry, given the problems it is facing.
Among its highlights will be the giving of SRA additional powers to monitor and regulate the entry of sugar substitutes, refined sugar and molasses, which is not included in its current mandate.
Coscolluela said they are also pushing to strengthen the role, function and authority of the SRA to address different problems.
They are also proposing an additional budget of allocation for the Sugarcane Industry Development Program (SIDP) to make it P5 billion, which includes a P1 billion sugar mill improvement program.
Alvarez assured small farmers and ARBs that their concerns will be given attention, while Benitez said he is committed to push their proposals and recommendations.
The inquiry was also attended by the different sugar federations in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, which expressed their strong opposition to the importation of refined sugar and its substitutes.*
