By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

According to United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines, Inc. (USPFP) President Manuel Lamata, the Sugar Alliance of the Philippines (SAP) is planning to push for a P40 excise tax on imported sweeteners.
In a press conference yesterday, Lamata claimed the P20 tax on high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) must be raised in order for the price of domestic sugar to stabilize.
He added, if the price of sugar rises to around P1,800 per bag, importation can be allowed. However, according to SAP, if local sugar prices were stabilized at P1,600, sugar farmers and beverage companies would already make a profit.
The USPFP chief also called the proposed P10 per liter tax on sugar-sweetened beverages a “problem,” saying it would affect the poor significantly, especially those who consume powdered coffee and similar products. He suggested bringing the tax down to P5.
“We have no problem with the government’s need for revenues for their operations, as long as they cut price by half,” Lamata said.
Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed House Bill No. 5336, or the tax reform package introduced by Malacañan Palace, which includes a P10 per liter excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, regardless of a critical amendment proposed by the Visayan Bloc to reduce the charge by half to P5 per liter.
Despite the failure of the Visayan Bloc lobby, Senator Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ Zubiri promised to fight for the reduction as he believed it will have a minimal effect on the sugar industry./WDJ