A coalition of sugarcane producers and labor groups has called on Coca-Cola to prioritize locally produced sugar amid reports that its Philippine bottling arm has begun importing finished beverage products from Indonesia.
The appeal was issued jointly by the Sugar Council, the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP), and the Democratic Association of Labor Organizations (DALO). The Sugar Council itself is composed of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations (CONFED), the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP), and the Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers (PANAYFED).
Industry sources told reporters that Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines (CCEAP) had recently imported finished Coke products to augment domestic supply, the first such move in at least a decade.
“As Filipino consumers and workers sustain Coca-Cola’s market success, we urge the company to reciprocate by prioritizing our domestic sugar,” the Sugar Council said in a statement.
The groups warned that continued reliance on imported finished products could reduce demand for Philippine sugar, threatening the livelihood of local farmers and workers.
They also questioned whether the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) was aware of the imports, citing Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona’s reported admission that he was surprised by CCEAP’s decision.
“Importing finished Coke products could well be the final nail in the coffin for the struggling sugar industry,” the groups said.
They urged the Department of Agriculture, the SRA, and other government agencies to investigate the extent to which finished-product imports are displacing locally produced sugar and to clarify policies meant to protect domestic agriculture. ||
