Rep. Yulo says SIDA law budget up by P1B

The budget for the implementation of the Sugar Industry Development Act has increased to P1 billion this year, Negros Occidental Rep. Emilio Yulo (5th district) said yesterday.

Yulo, a former board member of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said the increase is a significant development considering that the budget was just P750 million last year.

“With the problems faced by the sugar industry even its full implementation and an accompanying P2 billion budget is not enough to answer the needs of the sugar industry,” he admitted.

Under the components of the SIDA, “some are underutilized others are fully utilized, he said, citing the high utilization rate for farm-to-mill roads, which has a 50 percent original allocation or P1 billion under the SIDA as well as the educational component.”

“We have basic problems worth the other three components. One is basic credit because of the too stringent requirements of the Land Bank of the Philippines which is outside the control of the SRA. As to the Farm Mechanization component, there are strict rules when you borrow money for mechanization and another is bloc farming which lies in attracting agrarian reform beneficiaries,” he pointed out.

Enacted in 2015, the SIDA or Republic Act 10659 aims to promote the competitiveness of the sugarcane industry and maximize the utilization of sugarcane resources, and improve the incomes of farmers and farm workers, through improved productivity, product diversification, job generation, and increased efficiency of sugar mills.

Of the mandated P2 billion annual fund, P1 billion is allocated for infrastructure, mainly for farm-to-mill roads; P300 million for credit; P100 million for scholarships: P300 million for block farm of the land reform beneficiaries; and P300 million for shared facilities program.

However, the SRA was given P712 million in 2021 and 2022.* (EYA)