• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The proposed government-led sugar buying program pushed by industry stakeholders designed to address the oversupply was endorsed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The development was confirmed by Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama Jr., president of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Association (CONFED), in a statement on Wednesday, April 8.
The proposed government-led buying program, also known as the “Purchase and Park Program”, was contained in a manifesto signed by leaders of all federations, millers and refiners, labor, agrarian reform beneficiaries, and allied non-government organizations.
It is also supported by Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) chief Pablo Luis Azcona, who endorsed and submitted the proposal to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Based on the SRA supply-demand report as of March 22 this year, raw net ending stocks is 668,405 metric tons (MT), which is 17.5 percent higher than last crop year’s volume.
The refined net ending stocks is 506,804MT, with an increase of 38.77 percent compared to the previous year.
Valderrama blamed the oversupply in large measure to the excessive importation of refined sugar.
“Inevitably, this led mill gate prices of locally produced sugar to plunge,” he said.
Valderrama stressed the urgency of the implementation of the government-led buying program.
“We need to immediately take out the excess sugar in the market to bring stocks to a reasonable and profitable level. Whatever excess is taken out should also be refined to further delay, if not render unnecessary, the importation of refined sugar,” Valderrama said.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson expressed his full support for the proposed “Purchase and Park Program,” which aims to address the current surplus in sugar stocks.
Lacson said that Negros Occidental being the sugar capital of the Philippines, the provincial government recognizes the vital role of the sugar industry in sustaining the livelihood of thousands of Negrense farmers, workers, and their families.
“As we stand in agreement with this timely intervention, I’m hoping that President Marcos will approve the proposal,” he added.
Lacson urged swift action to help stabilize prices, protect the producers, and ensure the continued vitality of an industry that is central to the province’s economy and identity.
He also appealed to landowners to extend support to their farm workers by allowing them to cultivate food crops within available areas of their lands as a temporary measure to help ensure food sufficiency while the situation is being addressed.
In this time of challenge, Lacson said shared responsibility and compassion will go a long way in sustaining communities. | GB
