The National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) recently put out a press release expressing their opposition to government plans to deregulate sugar importation.

 “The National Federation of Sugar Workers vehemently condemns the recent pronouncement of [Department of Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno] that sugar will be the ‘next item’ to be deregulated and liberalized,” the statement stated. “The plan to deregulate and liberalize sugar importation is the height of stupidity.”

The release also echoed earlier statements by Sugar Regulatory Administration representative for planters, Atty. Emilio ‘Dino’ Yulo III, which was also reiterated in an ordinance passed by the Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod, referring to sugar traders as “greedy,” saying they would be the only ones to benefit from the proposal.

It also restated a suggestion by both Yulo and the aforementioned ordinance, calling on government to go after the said traders.

Among the companies NFSW suggested for investigation include the Universal Robina Corporation, which is part of JG Summit Holdings, the parent company of Robinsons Malls, and producer of a variety of well-known food and beverage brands include Jack ‘N Jill, C2, Great Taste Coffee, among others.

They also targeted All Asian Countertrade Inc., which, according to the company website, offered support to the Pampanga Sugar Development Company.

“We began paying fair prices for their product, thereby significantly increasing their income and their ability to continue to grow sugar,” the company noted. “This helped the lives of many farmers, and gave new life to the 70-year old sugar mill.”

NFSW, which referred to the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte as the “US-Duterte regime,” said the plan would “reward the culprit who victimized and exploited the sugar producers.”

The group also reiterated similar opposition sentiment that has been expressed over the past few days, suggesting deregulation would “spell the demise of the local sugar industry.”

They estimate the livelihood of over five million will be affected.

“We are calling all the sugar workers and farmers not to stand idly in the face of [these] imminent attacks on our livelihood,” the statement declared. “We will bring this fight to every corner that this struggle would take us.”

Meanwhile, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed, despite 2018 fourth quarter agriculture numbers up, sugarcane production was in decline.

According to their 4Q report, agriculture overall, which includes crops, livestock, poultry, and fisheries, saw an increase of 1.8 percent; crops, in particular, saw a marginal 0.25 percent increase.

However, the report noted sugarcane production saw a 2.22 percent drop, noting a reduction in areas harvested in the Western Visayas./WDJ