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[av_heading heading=’House inquiry into ‘corn sugar’ today’ 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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Tuesday, May 16, 2017
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BACOLOD City – Today the House of Representatives will hold a committee hearing on the impact of the importation, use and sale of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) on the sustainability of the Philippine sugar industry.
The committee on agriculture and food chaired by Rep. Jose Panganiban Jr. (ANAC-IP party-list) will lead the inquiry in aid of legislation starting 1 p.m.
Rep. Greg Gasataya (Lone District) and several other lawmakers from sugar-producing provinces filed a resolution seeking the inquiry in February.
At the time, Gasataya also delivered a privilege speech recalling the period the Negros Island was “facing hunger because of the collapse of the sugar industry.”
Critics claimed the “massive” importation and widespread use of the HFCS, an imported alternative sweetener, was causing the local sugar industry to lose billions of pesos in revenue and jobs for farmworkers.
On Monday Gasataya said he met with sugar industry stakeholders at the House for a prehearing conference.
Beverage giant Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines, Inc., departments of Agriculture and Trade and Industry, Bureau of Customs, and Sugar Regulatory Administration were invited to inquiry, said the congressman.
“HFCS is an imported alternative sweetener made from corn starch … widely used in the production of soft drinks and in food processing,” read part of the resolution signed by Gasataya and 14 other lawmakers.
“There is controversy over the health risks presented by HFCS consumption,” the resolution stated./PN
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