The Negros Occidental Federation of Farmers Association (NOFFA), a local agrarian reform beneficiary group, slammed newly-appointed Agriculture Secretary William Dar over his open stance on sugar liberalization, or the deregulate of sugar importation. An email forwarded by NOFFA Chairman Enrique Tayo said he was “disappointed.”
He said they were informed that Dar is “knowledgeable in agriculture” and “ought to know that liberalizing sugar importation will hurt small farmers.” However, he noted, “Dar did not even consult stakeholders and yet will make such an announcement already knowing that we have been opposing that move [over] the last couple of years.”
Tayo said the issue came about after Roberto ‘Bobby’ Amores of the Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization Inc. (Philfoodex) said Dar was open to the liberalizing sugar importation.
“We all know who Bobby Amores is—he has been lobbying for sugar importation,” the NOFFA official stated.
He went on to claim his motives were based in assuring the survival of Philfoodex.
“We know that their requirement is not big enough and can be supplied by the domestic market,” Tayo added.
Earlier, Raymond Montinola, spokesperson for the Confederation of Sugar Producers, said their organization welcomed Dar.
“We believe [Dar] will provide proper attention to the small farmers [by] ensuring them a more sustainable livelihood,” he explained.
In terms of the reported openness to sugar importation, Montinola said, while imports are no longer avoidable, imports must be calibrated on careful analysis of projected production versus demand and in consultation with industry stakeholders./DGB, WDJ