BACOLOD City — A federation of sugar workers and farmers has formally appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to overhaul the leadership of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), citing alleged policy failures, lack of transparency, and decisions that it said have worsened the plight of local producers.
In a letter dated February 28, National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP-TUCP) expressed alarm over the sharp decline in sugar prices between October and December 2025.
The letter was signed by Roland C. De la Cruz, national president of NACUSIP-TUCP and vice president of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).
The group said the downturn has left sugar farmers, agrarian reform beneficiaries, and mill workers struggling to recover production costs and support their families.
In the same letter, NACUSIP urged Marcos to replace key officials of the SRA Board, including Administrator Pablo Luis S. Azcona, Planters’ Representative David Andrew L. Sanson, and Millers’ Representative Ma. Mitzi V. Mangwag.
The federation accused the current board of failing to safeguard the interests of the local sugar industry, particularly in connection with Sugar Order No. 8, which it claimed led to excessive importation that flooded the domestic market and depressed local prices.
The union also criticized the board for allegedly refusing to release official minutes of meetings related to the controversial order, raising concerns over transparency and accountability.
De la Cruz said the sugar price slump was further aggravated by alleged market manipulation by unscrupulous traders and the absence of a government-backed sugar procurement program.
The group is urging Malacañang to establish a structured sugar-buying mechanism that would guarantee fair farmgate prices, protect producers from exploitation, and stabilize incomes across the sector.
“This is not merely an economic concern but a moral imperative,” the union said in its letter, emphasizing that without government intervention, small producers will continue to fall into debt while large traders benefit from volatile pricing./PN
