By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Organizers of the upcoming MassKara Festival announced Coca-Cola products will be banned from the event.

In a release by Festival Director Eli Tajanlangit, he stated, “We stand together with our government officials and sugar industry leaders in the fight against [Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines, Inc.] for its continued use of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).”

In addition, a resolution was also filed before the Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) calling for the ban of the said products.

“As enjoined by the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the MassKara Festival 2017 organizers have declared a lock-out of all Coca-Cola products,” the statement read. “No Coca-Cola product or promotional material or activity will be allowed in all of our festival sites.”

Back in July, the Sugar Alliance of the Philippines (SAP) accused Coca-Cola of smuggling HFCS, despite the beverage company agreeing to purchase more local sugar.

United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines (Unifed) President Manuel Lamata, who is also associated with SAP, claimed at the time, Coca-Cola has yet to fulfill their promise of purchasing more local sugar.

He maintained, of the eight million bags of local sugar the company pledged to purchase, they bought one million./DGB, WDJ