By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Both the Save the Sugar Industry Movement (SAVE-SIM) and the Confederation of Sugar Producers Cooperative (Confed) expressed their support for the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), after Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines filed a complaint before the court asking to nullify the sugar order issued by SRA.
In a message sent by SAVE-SIM lead convenor, Wennie Sancho, he said they are ready to defend SRA chief Anna Rosario Paner, after Coca-cola filed a civil case before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 98, asking to nullify Sugar Order No. 3.
Coca-Cola also named Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon, and Hermenegildo Serafica and Roland Beltran of the Sugar Board as respondents in the case.
Aside from the civil case, the beverage company also filed a temporary restraining order and a writ of preliminary injunction, which is intended to stop the enforcement of the order.
Sancho said they will defend the SRA over, what he called, “corporate greed” being used against the welfare and interest of the stakeholders, and the ultimate survival of the sugar industry.
He added they plan to convince all labor groups in Negros Occidental to join them in a massive rally to show their support for the SRA.
Confed National President Francis de la Rama also stated they will do everything in their power to continue protecting the sugar industry.
He said their organization is praying the courts see the merits of the SRA’s actions and, if not implemented, the effects on the millions who are directly and indirectly involved in the sugar industry.
Former Negros Occidental Governor Rafael Coscolluela also expressed his support for the SRA.
“It will be interesting to see how SRA’s sugar order stands up in court,” Coscolluela, a former SRA administrator, said. “It will be good to have the legal question resolved once and for all.”
Sugar Order No. 3 Series of 2016-17, or Guidelines on the Issuance of Clearance for Release of Imported HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) and Chemically Free Fructose, was issued with an aim of regulating the use of HFCS.
Under the sugar order, HFCS was tagged as a class “C” or “reserved” sugar, meaning it can only be used by beverage and other food manufacturing companies if there is a shortage in sugar in the country.
Coca-Cola’s injunction hearing is scheduled for March 20./WDJ