The United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines (UNIFED) is thankful that prices of sugar have gone up to the level that farmers are comfortable with and thanked Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, and Sugar Regulatory Administrator Pablo Azcona for their role in making it happen.
“We owe a lot to Secretary Laurel and Administrator Azcona, including our planters representative to the SRA Board, Dave Sanson, who gave solutions to our problem on low millgate prices at the start of the milling season,” UNIFED President Manuel Lamata said.
He added that when UNIFED first came out with their appeal, “millgate prices then was at P2,400 per 50-kilo bag,” which was not even at the break-even point for the farmers, particularly those with smaller plantations, as farm inputs were also at a high level at that time.
“We immediately sought for DA and SRA intervention and thankfully, they responded with the issuance of Sugar Order No. 2 and thereafter, prices started going up to what it is now, P2,850 per 50-kilo bag on the average,” Lamata said, adding that today’s prices are “a big relief to planters who are also facing the problem brought about by El Niño.”
He also lauded the DA and SRA for constantly working on the plight of the sugar farmers and hopes that the recent sugar order will be institutionalized for succeeding crop years to ensure steady and competitive prices.*
