BACOLOD City – The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) convened sugar industry leaders on Friday, Jan. 19, to tackle the government’s plan to buy sugar directly from farmers at a premium price amid the continuing low farmgate prices, usually between P2,400 and P2,500 per 50-kilogram bag.
The gathering, co-hosted by the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC), aims to explore avenues for aiding farmers, responding to the decline in sugar prices since the start of the milling season.
Pablo Luis Azcona, SRA administrator, hailed the gathering as a pivotal event, marking the first time industry stakeholders have convened in approximately eight years.
Azcona expressed optimism, stating they hope it will be the beginning of a unified industry with stakeholders openly communicating and supporting one another.
Acknowledging the commitment of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Agriculture secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., Azcona extended gratitude for their support, particularly towards assisting sugar farmers.
Discussions centered around measures to enhance productivity and profitability, ensure stability in sugar supply, achieve better retail prices, and consider the sugar farmer as both a producer and consumer.
The SRA chief also remains optimistic that collaborative efforts among industry stakeholders will pave the way for positive growth in the sector.
Other attendees were leaders from various federations such as the United Sugar Producers Federation, Confederation of Sugar Producers Association Inc., National Federation of Sugarcane Planters, Luzon Federation of Sugarcane Growers and Associations, Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers Inc., Philippine Sugar Millers Association, Philippine Association of Sugar Refiners, and groups of sugar farmers and traders. (Watchmen Daily Journal/with a report from the Philippine News Agency)/PN
