By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Agrarian reform beneficiaries in Negros Occidental recently signed a manifesto opposing the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) proposal to liberalize sugar importation.

In a joint statement issued by the signatories, they called the importation of sugar without “proper protections” for the local industry “dangerous” and “wrong.”

They noted, 70 percent of the Negros economy is dependent on sugar and such a proposal would “hugely disfavor small farmers and poor beneficiaries.”

The proclamation is expected to be sent to DBM Secretary Benjamin Diokno and the Senate.

Meanwhile, United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines President Manuel Lamata said his group, along with other sugar federations, will be sending a letter to the Office of the President expressing their opposition to the plan.

Earlier, Sugar Regulatory Administration board members, Attys. Roland Beltran and Emilio ‘Dino’ Yulo, issued a joint statement opposing the DBM proposal, with Yulo stating there are two sectors being “screwed” by high sugar prices, sugar farmers and consumers.

He said Diokno’s proposal will “spell the demise of the sugar industry” and “foment social unrest” in more than 20 provinces nationwide.

“Who is benefitting from this?” Yulo asked. “Definitely, it’s not the sugar farmers that already went out of their way to do direct selling to consumers to show that sugar can still be bought at a reasonable price.”

“Go after the greedy traders and retailers who are capitalizing on the situation at the expense of the sugar farmers and producers,” Yulo added./DGB, WDJ