By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Regional Governor Frank Carbon said the group supports holding a sugar summit in order to address the pressing issues impacting the industry.
Among the issues outlined by Carbon was the price of sugar, indicating his doubt prices would ever return to P1,800 per sack, but believes it could be maintained at P1,000 per sack.
In regards to high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and other sugar substitutes, which are sold at much lower prices, he called it a “sad reality for the sugar industry.”
Carbon also touched on sugar planters, who have expressed worries over expensive labor costs as farm laborers have switched to construction jobs, which pays higher and offers an easier workload.
He further stressed mechanizing the sugar industry is expensive and a majority of planters cannot afford the technology due to the recent fall in sugar prices.
“We have to sustain the sugar industry as the backbone of the Negros economy and we have to take the losses from the sugar industry [and invest in] other alternative sources like the poultry, piggery, rice, and other animal and livelihood projects,” Carbon said.
The PCCI chief also revealed concerns surrounding the sugar industry would be tackled this Friday during the Provincial Investment Plan meeting at the governor’s office.
He added, they are also expecting to take up the Comprehensive Tax Reform Package, which was passed by the House of Representatives and includes the excise tax on sugar-sweetened products./WDJ