• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Lawmakers from sugar-producing provinces shared the sentiments of industry stakeholders for amendments to the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Charter to regulate the importation of artificial sweeteners, which is causing harm and damage to the sugar industry.
SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona admitted on Wednesday, Feb. 25 that SRA has no regulatory policy on the entry of artificial sweeteners into the country.
During the congressional inquiry on the status of sugar industry, Azcona revealed that 1,700 metric tons of artificial sweeteners annually entered the country, which is equivalent to 750,000 to 800,000 metric tons of sugar, noting that imported chemical artificial sweeteners are 200 to 500 times sweeter than sugar.
Negros Occidental Fifth District Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo, vice chairperson of the House committee on agriculture, said that artificial sweeteners displace locally-produced sugar.
Bukidnon Third District Rep. Audrey Zubiri joined the Negros Occidental lawmakers, who attended the congressional inquiry, in airing their support to regulate the entry of artificial sweeteners into the country as well as in pushing for amendments to the SRA Charter.
Also present were Third District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez, Sixth District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez, and Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Manuel Frederick Ko.
While SRA made a policy on sugar substitutes in 2025, Azcona said it was only geared towards gathering accurate importation data.
“While it helps in regulating the entry of sugar substitutes, it did not touch other purely chemical artificial sweeteners,” he added.
Azcona stressed the need to make another policy for other groups of sweeteners.
Yulo suggested to the SRA to require those importing artificial sweeteners to buy a corresponding amount of volume of local sugar.
Former Negros Occidental governor Rafael Coscolluela, who once served as the SRA administrator, admitted that they are running against time in the pursuit of proposed legislative measures, noting that by June or July, lawmakers will focus on the proposed 2027 national budget.
Among the proposed measures being pushed are the revision of the Sugar Industry Development Act to promote viability and sustainability of the sugar industry despite the problems it faces.
Among the highlights is giving the SRA additional powers to monitor and regulate the entry of sugar substitutes, refined sugar and molasses, which is not included in its power.
Coscolluela said they are also pushing to strengthen the role, function, and authority of the SRA to address different problems.
They are also proposing additional budget allocation for the Sugarcane Industry Development Program to make it P5 billion, which includes a P1-billion sugar mill improvement program.
Alvarez assured the small farmers that their concerns will be given attention while Benitez said he is committed to push their proposals and recommendations.
The inquiry was also attended by officials of sugar federations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, who expressed their strong opposition to the importation of refined sugar. | GB
