News Release

PBBM holds consultative meeting with sugar industry stakeholders



It was the first in a long time that a president sat down with all stakeholders in the sugar industry.

The meeting in Malacañang focused on concerns and measures to boost the country’s sugar production, as well as government plans to promote the development of the sugar industry, President Marcos said on Wednesday.

“One of the suggestions that came up during the meeting was to revitalize PhilSuCor. PhilSuCor is Philippine Sugar Corporation. It provides financing for farmers especially for cooperatives and farmers’ association, ‘yung mga tinatawag na block. Ngayon hindi sila masyadong nakakapagtrabaho dahil they tried to abolish the PhilSuCor,” Marcos said.

“Ngunit hindi na-abolish, nandiyan pa sila kaya’t bubuhayin natin, at babaguhin natin. Titingnan natin kung ano ‘yung mga pagbabago para makapag-adjust tayo dito sa sitwasyon natin ngayon and continue their work in providing assistance sa ating mga farmers, sa ating mga farmer groups,” he said.

Marcos was referring to the PhilSucor that was created under Presidential Decree No. 1890 in 1983 to finance the acquisition, rehabilitation, and/or expansion of sugar mills, refineries, and other related facilities. An order to abolish PhilSuCor was released on October 25, 2018, citing its overlapping functions with the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).

Negros Occidental Mayor Jose Nadie Arceo, one of the stakeholders who attended the meeting, thanked the President for the opportunity to hear the sentiments of the beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

He noted that Marcos was the first chief executive in a long while who listened to their sentiments.

“Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to convey the real problems of the CARP beneficiaries to the President. Previous presidents didn’t give me this opportunity, only this one,” Arceo said.

Arceo said he is also thankful to the President for giving them the chance to discuss their concerns on how to improve the sugar industry in the country.

“Mahalaga kasi ‘yung pinag-usapan kanina ‘yung how to improve the production sa ating mga production ng cane. So, ‘pag sinusuportahan mo, ‘yung malaking porsyento ng industry – ‘yung small farmers, talagang i-improve ‘yung production mo,” Arceo said.

He said they are now focused on helping small farmers as he emphasized that 85 to 90 percent of the sugar industry is composed of small farmers.

On the other hand, the President said another issue discussed during the meeting was the importation schedule for the approved importation of 150,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar and how to open up the importation to all traders.

There were also discussions on future plans to strengthen the local sugar industry, as well as identification of sugar lands to increase acreage aimed at boosting production, he said.

Among the officials present during the meeting were Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile Sr., Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Ernesto F. Lagdameo Jr., Communications Secretary Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil, Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban, Presidential Management Staff Senior Undersecretary Elaine T. Masukat, and SRA Acting Administrator Pablo Luis S. Azcona.

Key sugar industry stakeholders who attended the meeting included Arceo and Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental Mayor Benjie Miranda.

Other attendees were Manuel Lamata from the United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED); Cornelio Toreja of Luzon Federation of Sugar Producers Inc. (LUZONFED); Petie Sumagaysay of Kabankalan-Ilog Planters Association (KABILOG PA); Lance Gokongwei of Universal Robina Corp.; and Gareth McGeown, representing the domestic traders of Coca-cola. (PND)