Negros Occidental gov't opposes ‘liberalization of sugar industry’

Some of the sugar workers in Negros Occidental seen to be affected if the proposed liberalization scheme on sugar importation pushes through this year. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Negros Occidental has passed, in mass motion, a resolution opposing the plan of the government to “liberalize the sugar industry.”

Sponsored by Third District Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko, the resolution stated that the move would open the flood gate to unabated massive unregulated entry of sugar being dumped by the ASEAN market with surplus production.

The proposal would spell the demise of the local sugar industry, which is the lifeblood of Negros Occidental.

Also, liberalizing the sugar industry is seen to lead to economic dislocation of stakeholders particularly the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), small farmers, and sugar farm workers.

Such economic dislocation would in time foment widespread social unrest and putting to naught all social economic initiatives of the province, it added.

Copies of the resolution will be submitted to the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM), among other concerned agencies.

Ko said though they do not yet know the  exact gravity of effects once the liberalization of sugar importation pushes through, they are sure that it will have a bad impact to the industry and the people making a living on it. 

“Liberalizing the importation scheme is the same as liberalizing the entire sugar industry,” he said, adding that “so, we, Negrenses should not allow this move.”

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno earlier said sugar in the Philippines is very expensive compared with global prices.

“We plan to deregulate or relax that industry,” the Budget chief said, adding that the administration’s target is within the year.

The deregulation of sugar importation is in line with the President’s Administrative Order No. 13 issued last September, when inflation was at a nine-year high of 6.7 percent.

“You have to relax the rules on importation—that puts pressure on the domestic economy to compete with the rest of the world,” Diokno added.

On Tuesday, Negros Occident Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. hit Diokno for the latter’s pronouncement which is a “very sad statement to the poorest of the poor.”

Marañon said the plan to deregulate government restrictions on imported sugar will be the death of the sugar industry.

As he urged Negrenses and those from other sugar producing provinces to lobby for the sugar industry, the governor said the industry players should also plan out their moves and coordinate their strategy on what to do.

"They should think of the survival of the agriculture sector," he added.

The labor group in the province had also expressed alarm over the liberalization of the sugar importation scheme.

Wennie Sancho, convenor of Save the Sugar Industry Movement (SSIM),  said the plan to deregulate the importation of sugar shall cause apprehension to the workers as it will have an adverse economic impact on their families and continued employment.

Earlier, two officials of the SRA have allayed concerns of the industry stakeholders amid the liberalization plan because of high sugar prices and restrictive import policy of the agency. — BAP, GMA News