• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP-TUCP) issued a statement strongly denouncing the Sugar Regulatory Administration’s (SRA) refusal to release the minutes of the board meeting that approved Sugar Order No. 8, Series of 2024-2025.
The order authorized the importation of 424,000 metric tons of refined sugar—a staggering 274,000 MT surplus over the 150,000 MT requested by industry stakeholders, according to NACUSIP-TUCP president Roland dela Cruz.
In a statement, dela Cruz said the over-importation is widely blamed for the destructive drop in millgate prices, plunging sugar farmers and workers into widespread poverty, debt and injustice.
Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona denied the release of the minutes, the NACUSIP-TUCP president said, citing the SRA GCG Memorandum Circular No. 2012-07, claiming the discussions are “Confidential Information” and “Non-Public Information” involving internal deliberations.
De la Cruz described the SRA’s legal justification as a “grave misinterpretation” of the rules.
“Such a move is an affront to the transparency and good governance pillars of President Marcos Jr.’s Bagong Pilipinas,” he said, adding that the SRA’s secrecy is a betrayal of the farmers and workers.
“We demand to know what transpired in that boardroom and who specifically authorized an oversupply that has crippled our livelihoods. The minutes of an official meeting mandating an official Sugar Order are public documents, not ‘non-public’ secrets!” De la Cruz stressed.
“If there is nothing to hide, if there is nothing anomalous, why hide under the skirt of GCG Memorandum Circular No. 2012-07 just to keep the SO8 minutes away from public scrutiny?” he asked.
Dela Cruz also enjoined all Negros Island Region lawmakers to join them in their demand for transparency.
He reiterated his demands, not only for the immediate release of the meeting minutes, but also the resignation of the SRA officials responsible for the decision, and full accountability for the billions of pesos lost by the local sugar industry.*
