• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The drop in prices of locally produced sugar was blamed by Senate majority floor leader Juan Miguel Zubiri on the importation of artificial sweeteners.
Sugar farmers in the country are urging the government to address the unregulated entry and use of artificial sweeteners, warning that this would displace a substantial volume of sugar in the domestic market.
Zubiri revealed that 40 percent of products that utilize sugar in the country have transferred to the use of sugar sweeteners and other sugar additives, which is a big loss to the market of local sugar producers.
The National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP) and various sugar federations have raised “serious concern” about “the importation and use of artificial sweeteners,” saying it could result in widespread displacement of sugarcane farmers and workers.
Zubiri, who earlier filed a resolution in the Senate pushing for an investigation into the use of sugar sweeteners, wants the Sugar Regulatory Administration to have jurisdiction in the importation of sweeteners and other sugar substitutes.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said they will look into increasing tariffs on artificial sweeteners to protect the local sugar industry.
The House committee on Agriculture chaired by Representative Mark Enverga will hold a congressional inquiry on challenges of the sugar industry on February 25 at the House of Representatives, following public consultation on sharp increase of sugar prices in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, as facilitated by Negros Occidental 3rd district Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez.
The recent sharp decline in domestic mill gate prices of sugar has been blamed on the over importation of sugar by some industry stakeholders. This drop has placed the local sugar industry in a crisis, as farmers struggle to cover production costs.
Senator Juan Victor Ejercito, who co-authored the Sugar Industry Development Act (SIDA) 2015, which is granted a P2 billion budget annually for the sugar industry, said he was saddened that despite its passage, the industry still experienced the same problem, such as low price of sugar and its importation, noting also the protection to the industry is not good, compared to our neighbors in the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).
Ejercito, who also authored the anti-agricultural sabotage act, said the SIDA law should have been taken advantage to the fullest, noting the underutilization of the P2 billion budget.
Zubiri urged Negros Occidental solons to file a similar measure in the House of Representatives, amending the power of Sugar Regulatory Administration, which will allow them to put safeguards and regulate the importation of sugar substitutes, which is currently not within their jurisdiction.
As to the importation of sugar, he reiterated that it should be done, when it is necessary, if there is no sugar left in the bodega. “Dapat buy Filipino sugar,” Zubiri stressed.
But what is happening now, sugar substitutes keep on entering, flooding the country, the senator said, noting that entry of imported sugar is small in volume, compared to artificial sweeteners.*
