By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The lead convenor of the Save the Sugar Industry Movement (SAVE-SIM), Wennie Sancho, thanked officials of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) and Bacolod Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, yesterday, following the issuance of Sugar Order No. 3, which will control the importation of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
In a press conference yesterday morning, Sancho said the actions made by SRA Administrator, Atty. Anna Rosario Paner, is a positive development and a strong indicator that the SRA is listening to the concerns of the stakeholders in the sugar industry.
“We commend her for saving the industry from the onslaught of unabated HFCS importation,” Sancho said.
Sancho also said their group is confident Sugar Order No. 3 will serve as a “Magna Carta” for the sugar industry, or a document constituting a fundamental guarantee for the protection of the sugar industry stakeholders, particularly the mill and farm workers who are solely dependent on the sugar industry as their livelihood.
The group also thanked Gasataya for calling a congressional inquiry into HFCS.
Earlier, SRA classified HFCS as “C” sugar, or reserve sugar, and could only be released whenever there is a shortage of domestic sugar.
SAVE-SIM, meanwhile, told stakeholders to remain vigilant as guardians of the sugar industry, calling it “a goose that lays golden eggs.”/WDJ