• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Sugar Regulatory Administration has agreed to endorse the direct government purchase of domestic sugar that is being pushed by both the Confederation of Sugar Producers Association (CONFED) and National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry (NACUSIP) to help sugar farmers experiencing drastic decline in sugar mill gate prices.
“The key to any challenging situation is to keep talking to each other. The sugar industry belongs to all of us. We must always be willing to collaborate,” said CONFED president Aurelio Valderrama, who met with Sugar Regulatory Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona and NACUSIP president Roland de la Cruz, on March 4 at the House of Representatives.
CONFED also called for the establishment of a technical working group to work out the mechanics for a government sugar buying program.
During the recent congressional inquiry on the status of the sugar industry at the House of Representatives, lawmakers in sugar-producing regions pushed for amendments to the SRA charter to better regulate the importation of sugar and artificial sweeteners, which they argue is damaging the local industry.
CONFED also submitted a proposed measure revising Republic Act No. 10659, or SIDA of 2015, which promotes and supports the competitiveness and sustainability of the sugarcane industry, while strengthening the institutional capacity of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).
Concerns have been also raised regarding the lack of control over the importation of molasses and artificial sweeteners, such as magic sugar and sucralose, which have lowered the prices of local products.
Calls were also made to improve infrastructure for sugarcane farmers and strengthen the overall industry through legislative changes.
These legislative moves are aimed at safeguarding the livelihoods of farmers and ensuring the viability of the Philippine sugar industry against increasing competitive pressures.*
