Sugar planters say no to SRA abolition

Sugar planters in the country are opposing the abolition of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).

Negros Occidental Rep. Emilio Yulo (5th district) said today, August 24 that the abolition of the SRA will mean “unabated importation like what is happening with the rice industry.”
“We cannot do away with the regulatory powers of the SRA,” Yulo said.

Pablo Luis Azcona, board member representing the sugar planters, said the SRA is needed “to regulate the sugar industry in the Philippines.”

“We have businessmen who do not care about the farmers and what they care about is maximum profit,” Azcona pointed out.

He added that if they are allowed by the government “to import unlimitedly their profit will go up but all the farmers will die.”

“We want the protection and we want our sugar to be consumed first before the imports come,” Azcona added.

Manuel Lamata, president of the United Sugar Producers Federation (Unifed), said he is also not in favor that the SRA will be abolished as it is effective.

Lamata said the problem is the people who are manning the agency before.

Cornelio Toreja, president of Luzon Federation of Sugarcane Growers Association, said that abolishing the SRA and incorporating it with the Department of Agriculture “will hurt the sugar industry.”

Luzon produces nine percent of the total sugar supply in the country, the biggest is in Batangas province.

IN FAVOR

Albay Representative Joey Salceda said today he favors the abolition of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA),

“In its current form, the SRA must change or be abolished. It has not been very effective in its role of local industry development. Low utilization rates of SIDA and TRAIN Law funds have hounded that agency. It is certainly a failed agency, judging by the outcomes of its mandates,” Salceda said in a statement.

SIDA refers to the Sugarcane Industry Development Act, while the TRAIN law is the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion policy of the government.

“I would suggest that sugar industry programs be streamlined within the DA instead, as is consistent with the overall direction of President Bongbong Marcos to streamline agricultural support,” he added.* (EYA)