BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) here passed a resolution addressed to the Sugar Regulatory Administration opposing the planned liberalization of sugar importation.
Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez, author of the resolution, said “the unregulated entry of imported sugar will cause social unrest and deterioration of peace and order situation in communities surrounding the farms and mills.”
This will pave the way to the rise of insurgency in those areas, Lopez said.
“We have to note the social impact of
this proposal on the people who could be easily convinced to resort to
insurgence the moment life becomes difficult for them,” he added.
Earlier, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno has opened the possibility of
deregulating the country’s sugar importation to bring down its retail cost in
the markets.
However, Lopez said the measure would
lead “to the death of the industry.”
“The unregulated entry of subsidized sugar will lead to disruption in the
entire sugar production value chain and up-stream and down-stream industries
serving the sugar industry,” the councilor said.
Lopez explained the unregulated entry of subsidized imported sugar will depress prices and imperil the livelihood of small farmers, agrarian reform beneficiaries and workers.
He noted that various province across the country have issued their respective resolutions opposing the liberalization and strongly urging the economic managers to reconsider the liberalization and complete deregulation of the sugar industry./PN
