Manila: Negros Occidental 5th District Rep. Emilio Yulo III said that allowing the importation of sugar for industrial users would affect the domestic sugar industry, reports Phil Star.
The Sugar Planter’s federations are opposing the sugar liberalization process initiated by Finance Secretary Diokno which is considered as a compromise to raise taxes on sugary drinks.
This will largely affect the sugar producers and the industry is 90% composed of marginalized farmers, said Yulo.
The plan of Diokno has been opposed by Sen. JV Ejercito, the United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED) and the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP).
NFSP president Enrique Rojas said, “The decision to allow sweetener and beverages manufacturers to import sugar will impact the government regulations over the sugar industry and will further destabilize the livelihood of thousands of marginal sugarcane farmers.”
