By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Beverage giant Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. submitted to demands by the Sugar Alliance of the Philippines (SAP) and agreed to buy and use more locally-produced sugar.
United Sugar Producers’ Federation of the Philippines, Inc. (USPFP) President Manuel Lamata, a leader of SAP, said the agreement was made during a meeting arranged by Binalbagan-Isabela Sugar Company (BISCOM) chief executive officer Jose Marie Chan at the Peninsula Hotel Manila.
During the meeting, Pepsi-Cola president Samudra Bhattacharya committed the company to buying more cane sugar instead of using high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
Lamata noted, as part of the agreement, SAP cancelled their calls for the boycott of all Pepsi Cola products.
He clarified, however, the boycott of Coca-Cola, a Pepsi competitor, remains in place.
“Bhattacharya committed to Pepsi Cola being a partner of the sugar industry and to continue buying local sugar,” Lamata said.
Earlier, Chan called for a meeting with leaders of the sugar industry after SAP threatened a boycott of Pepsi-Cola products. BISCOM is the primary supplier of sugar to the Pepsi-Cola plant in Bacolod City./WDJ