• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Aiming to introduce wide-ranging reforms to stabilize the country’s sugar industry, Negros Occidental Third District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez filed on Tuesday (May 5) a bill which seeks to amend the Republic Act 10659 or the Sugarcane Industry Development Act (SIDA) of 2015.
House Bill 9088, also referred to as the Tunay na Ugnayan, Buhay, at Oportunidad sa Asukal (TUBO) Act of 2026, seeks to address persistent volatility in sugar production, pricing, and supply, which stakeholders attribute to gaps in regulation, import policy, and program implementation.
The proposed legislation was pushed by Benitez after hearing complaints of sugarcane stakeholders on how the industry is being managed, including over importation, which led to drastic reduction in prices of millgate sugar, among others.
RA 10659 or the SIDA of 2015 was then authored by his father-predecessor Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.
To stabilize supply and prices, the proposed measure introduces data-driven triggers for sugar importation.
Imports will only be allowed when the domestic supply falls below defined buffer stock levels or is projected to be insufficient to meet demand.
The bill also proposes an 18-month moratorium on commercial sugar imports, subject to exceptions in cases of supply shortages.
In addition, the measure includes provisions for a price support mechanism, emergency cash assistance for affected farmers, subsidies for appropriate farm inputs, and a temporary loan relief program for small planters.
The measure seeks to close regulatory gaps that industry groups say have fueled oversupply and market distortions driven by over importation, placing downward pressure on farmgate prices.
Under the bill, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) will have expanded authority to regulate not only sugar but also sugar substitutes such as high-fructose corn syrup and other caloric and non-caloric sweeteners.
House Bill 9088 also proposes a more inclusive SRA governing board, adding representatives from the sugar millers, sugar planters, sugar refineries, small farmers and agrarian reform beneficiaries, field and mill workers, and industrial users.
Hence, it mandates regular consultations with stakeholders and requires the publication of data and policy decisions to improve transparency.
The bill further restructures the allocation of funds under SIDA, prioritizing investments in climate adaptation, infrastructure, research and development, and direct support for farmers.
It also requires the SRA to maintain a publicly accessible system tracking fund utilization and industry data.
To stabilize supply and prices, the proposed measure introduces data-driven triggers for sugar importation.
The proposed law also outlines reforms aimed at improving productivity and long-term competitiveness, including support for mechanization, precision agriculture, and value-added industries, as well as stricter monitoring to curb smuggling and ensure accurate industry reporting.
In his explanatory note, Benitez said the measure seeks to establish a more responsive, data-driven, and inclusive framework for the sugar industry, which remains a key source of livelihood in rural communities. | GB
