• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Initial amendments to the Sugarcane Industry Development Act (SIDA) of 2015 are up for discussion by members of the House committee on agriculture before Congress goes on break on June 5, Negros Occidental Third District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez said.
Benitez filed House Bill No. 9088, also known as the Tunay na Ugnayan, Buhay, at Oportunidad sa Asukal (TUBO) Act of 2026, to introduce sweeping reforms to the Philippine sugar industry, including amendments to SIDA 2015, which was authored by his father, Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.
Under the bill, the Sugar Regulatory Administration 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.
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.
A similar bill was also filed by Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito in the Senate. | GB
