• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Senate deputy majority leader Joseph Victor (JV) Ejercito earned praise from sugar industry groups after pushing for a Senate investigation into alleged sugar over-importation and the implementation of the Sugar Industry Development Act of 2015, while also filing a measure seeking reforms in the country’s sugar sector.
In a joint statement, the Confederation of Sugar Producers Association (CONFED), National Federation of Sugar Planters, Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers, and National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (NACUSIP-TUCP) described Ejercito’s actions as a “rare turn of events” in the Senate that brought renewed attention to the concerns of the sugar industry.
The groups claimed that the local sugar industry lost more than P12 billion in revenues due to what they described as excessive sugar importation.
“We thank Senator Ejercito for his decisive and quick action in filing two resolutions and a bill related to the sugar industry. We are hopeful that the proper committees take cognizance of the bills and set hearings as soon as possible,” the groups said.
Ejercito earlier filed Senate Bill No. 2114, which seeks to introduce reforms in the Philippine sugar industry and strengthen support mechanisms for sugar producers and workers.
A counterpart measure seeking amendments to the SIDA law was also filed in the House of Representatives by Negros Occ. Third District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez.
The Sugar Council, composed of NFSP, CONFED, Panay FED, and NACUSIP-TUCP, said that funds allocated under the Sugar Industry Development Act since its enactment in 2015 have not been fully utilized for the intended development of the industry.
“Service delayed is service denied,” the group said, adding that the non-optimum use of SIDA funds may have contributed to the industry’s continuing low productivity.
The stakeholders expressed hope that the proposed legislative measures and Senate inquiry would lead to policy reforms and stronger government support for the country’s sugar sector.*
