By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr., and Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson announced they will be joining the protest condemning the proposal by Department of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol to suspend Sugar Order No. 3, enacted by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), which regulated the importation of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
Set to take place today in front of the Coca-Cola FEMSA plant in Barangay Mansilingan, the provincial leaders are expected to be joined by 5,000 protesters, including PDP-Laban Negros Secretary-General Yves Akol.
Yesterday, Sugar Alliance spokesperson, Atty. Emilio Yulo, held a press conference formally confirming the governor’s participation and announcing the vice governor will be reading the text of the resolution passed by the Provincial Board last week in support of Sugar Order No. 3.
He said he is asking for patience from the public, as he anticipates major traffic jams as a result of the protest.
“We are asking the public to avoid the area and seek their understanding and sympathy,” said Yulo.
He noted three areas of convergence will include the Bata-Circumferential Road, the Cegasco-Circumferential Road, and in Murcia near the public cemetery.
“Our members will be coming in as early as 6:00 a.m. and will be lining up along those roads,” Yulo stated.
“Through this protest, we hope Malacañan will intervene and ask Sec. Manny Piñol to ‘stand-down,’” he added.
Calling it a “the sign of their protest,” the event will close by burning an effigy of the agriculture secretary.
Meanwhile, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri also offered a message of support, which will be read during the protest./WDJ