By Tara Yap

While in Iloilo City, former Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) chief Rafael Coscolluela recently called the rising conflict between the sugar industry, the government, and beverage manufacturers unhealthy for the economy, saying the issue goes beyond individual companies.
“We need to accept the reality that Philippine sugar is expensive,” he said.
“It will raise the price of products,” the former Negros Occidental governor explained. “The expected result is there will be less demand for sugar.”
Coscolluela urged stakeholders to stop taking hardline positions while seeking a win-win solution, as suggested by Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol.
Following their recent protest in front of the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Barangay Mansilingan, Negros officials are calling for a ban of Coca-Cola products./WDJ