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[av_heading heading=’Greg wants ‘corn sugar’ House probe in NegOcc’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY MAE SINGUAY
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Monday, March 13, 2017
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A woman throws sugarcane tops she made out of stalks at a plantation in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City. Rep. Greg Gasataya wants the House of Representatives inquiry into the high-fructose corn syrup held in Negros Occidental. ARCHIE REY ALIPALO/PN
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BACOLOD City – Rep. Greg Gasataya wants the House of Representatives inquiry into the importation, sale and use of the high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) held in Negros Occidental.
Gasataya said this will make it easier for concerned stakeholders — those from the local sugar industry — to attend; specifically, it will spare them from the cost of transportation when heading to Manila.
Responding to industry clamor, the congressman and 14 others from sugar-producing provinces sought the inquiry, in aid of legislation, to ascertain the impact of the HFCS on the local sugar industry.
The House approved the resolution. ANAC-IP (Ang National Coalition of Indigenous Peoples Action Na!) party-list Rep. Jose Panganiban Jr., agriculture and food committee chairman, will lead the inquiry.
Gasataya said he was lobbying with the committee to hold the hearing in Negros Occidental.
The committee may hold the inquiry while Congress is on recess this week, said the congressman.
Gasataya clarified that the inquiry will push through despite the Sugar Regulatory Administration’s issuance of Sugar Order No. 3, which regulates the importation of the alternative sweetener.
He said he and other lawmakers from sugar-producing provinces have the “duty and obligation to protect the sugar industry.”
Critics claimed the high demand for and importation of the HFCS is causing a drop in the prices of locally produced sugar.
If this continues, the economy of Negros Island Region, whose lifeblood is sugar, will be affected, said Gasataya.
Local businesses may also feel the effect, and this will possibly affect tax collection, he said./PN
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