Bacolod City: The Himamaylan City Council has urged national government agencies overseeing the sugar industry to look into the sharp decline in sugarcane prices, which has caused growing concern among farmers, reports The Manila Times.
During its regular session on Tuesday, presided over by Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao, the Sangguniang Panlungsod passed a resolution seeking government intervention to assist sugarcane growers struggling with the sudden price drop.
The council also backed the earlier call by ten lawmakers from the Negros Island Region (NIR), who pressed the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to immediately investigate and provide a clear, data-based explanation for the drastic fall in sugar prices.
According to data from the Department of Agrarian Reform, Himamaylan City has the highest number of agrarian reform beneficiaries in Negros Occidental, the country’s top sugar-producing province. Victoria Mill, located in the area, reportedly supplies about 30 percent of the Philippines’ daily demand for refined sugar.
However, recent reports show that the millgate price for sugar has fallen to around ₱2,200 per 50-kilogram bag—about ₱300 below the estimated production cost. The lawmakers, in a joint statement issued on October 14, described this as a crisis that could severely impact the livelihoods of sugarcane farmers.
Vice Mayor Gatuslao echoed the sentiments of Negros Occidental 5th District Representative Dino Yulo, who stressed the need for transparency from the SRA regarding current market conditions.
“Industry leaders warn that if this price collapse continues, it could deepen poverty in rural sugar-growing areas, where over 60 percent of households depend on sugarcane as their main or supplementary source of income,” the legislators said.
The Negros lawmakers also called on the SRA to explain the factors behind the price drop, including the impact of recent sugar importation, pest infestations, and shifts in market demand. They urged all concerned agencies to act swiftly and responsibly to stabilize prices and protect the livelihoods of farmers.
“Negros Occidental remains the country’s top sugar-producing province, accounting for nearly half of the national output,” the lawmakers said, warning that the continuing decline could cripple thousands of families dependent on the crop for their income.
The ten Negros Island lawmakers who signed the statement include Negros Occidental Representatives Julio Ledesma IV, Alfredo Marañon III, Javier Miguel Benitez, Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, Jeffrey Ferrer, Emilio Bernardino Yulo III, and Mercedes Alvarez, as well as Negros Oriental Representatives Emmanuel Iway, Maisa Sagarbarria, and Janice Degamo.
