By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

After Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier said he would ask the Provincial Board to pass a resolution opposing the proposal recommending sugar liberalization, or the deregulation of sugar importation, the local legislative body, during this week’s regular session, unanimously approved a resolution appealing for President Rodrigo Duterte to oppose the proposal.
Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said, after the session, they shared the sentiments of sugar industry advocates who have claimed importation would spell the collapse of the sugar industry.
The resolution, sponsored by Board Member Andrew Montelibano, is the latest declaration of support for Tatak Kalamay, an umbrella organization of stakeholders in the sugar industry.
Earlier this month, members of the Negros Occidental delegation to the House of Representatives came out against the Department of Finance’s proposal recommending sugar liberalization with Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Stephen Paduano claiming such a move would cause “unrest.”
“Sugar liberalization will further hinder the growth of small farms and could aggravate
the brewing peasant unrest in some parts of Negros,” he insisted. “We cannot and will not allow more suffering.”/DGB, WDJ