By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Local group Save the Sugar Industry Movement (Save-SIM) has lauded Senators Miguel Zubiri, Sherwin Gatchalian, and Paolo Benigno Aquino III; and Representative Alfredo Benitez for defending sugar workers during the senate hearing on high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), last Tuesday.
In a text message sent by Save-SIM lead convenor Wennie Sancho, he said Zubiri concluded Sugar Order No. 3, which was issued by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), will remain valid.
However, Sancho said, unless there is an official pronouncement from Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines regarding the end to HFCS importation, their campaign of boycotting all Coca-Cola products will continue.
At the request of Zubiri, the group is also considering lifting Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol’s “persona non-grata” status.
The declaration came after Piñol referred to sugar stakeholders in Negros Occidental as “spoiled brats,” following various groups conducting a mass protest in front of the Coca-Cola FEMSA plant in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City.
Last Tuesday, Senate Committee on Agriculture chairperson Senator Cynthia Villar said she is pushing for a settlement of the issues hounding the industry, with the committee agreeing to the creation of a sugar industry consultative committee.
Beverage companies attending the hearing also agreed to recognize Sugar Order No. 3, which regulates the importation of HFCS./WDJ