Leaders of major sugar industry groups in the Philippines have proposed several measures to support the sector, with the Sugar Regulatory Administration assuring assistance during a meeting led by Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona in Bacolod, Philippine News Agency reported.
During the meeting held at the SRA office on March 9, Azcona welcomed the joint efforts of sugar industry stakeholders who came together to discuss problems affecting the sector. Participants included representatives from the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters, United Sugar Producers Federation, Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations and Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers.
Azcona said he was pleased to see industry groups working together to address challenges facing the sugar sector. According to him, cooperation among stakeholders will help ensure the continued growth and stability of the industry.
During the discussions, participants agreed to ask the national government to review and restart the sugar buying programme earlier implemented by the Department of Agriculture and the SRA. Under the programme, the government purchased a portion of sugar produced by farmers and millers at a fixed price using a budget of about PHP5 billion.
He said officials from CONFED presented proposed changes to the programme, while other industry groups will submit their recommendations to the SRA.
The meeting also discussed the possibility of setting a government-mandated minimum price for sugar produced by farmers and millers.
Participants further raised concerns about rising costs of fuel, fertiliser and other farm inputs. They also discussed steps to reduce possible impacts on the sugar sector from tensions in the Middle East.
The discussions followed a letter from David Andrew Sanson seeking recommendations from industry stakeholders.
Azcona further stated that the group plans to send a joint letter to Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. outlining the sector’s concerns and suggestions. The letter will be forwarded by the SRA to the Department of Agriculture and the Office of the President.
He added that the meeting reflects the continuing efforts of the Marcos administration to bring together government and private sector stakeholders to work on common solutions for the sugar industry.
