By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Sugar planters attending yesterday’s 68th PHILSUTECH Annual National Convention at the SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City have voiced out their opposition to a proposal to abolish the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).

This comes amid the controversy over SRA’s issuance of Sugar Order No. 4 (SO4) which was later deemed as “illegal” by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.

Negros Occidental 5th district Congressman Emilio “Dino” Yulo III said the abolition of the SRA will mean an unabated importation of sugar, similar to what is already happening with the rice industry.

“We cannot do away with the regulatory powers of the SRA,” Yulo pointed out.

SRA Board Member Pablo Luis Azcona, who represents the country’s sugar planters, said the SRA is necessary to regulate the country’s sugar industry.

Azcona pointed out that there are businessmen who only care about making profits, have very little or do not care at all about the sugar farmers.

He further explained that if the SRA is abolished, it would mean unlimited profits for the businessmen, while it is a death sentence for the farmers.

He said the SRA’s protection would mean local sugar gets to be consumed first before the imports can come in.

United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED) President Manuel Lamata is also against abolishing the SRA, as they are still effective in protecting the local sugar industry.

However, Lamata pointed out the problem lies with the people manning the agency before.

Luzon Federation of Sugarcane Growers Association President Cornelio Toreja, who is also attending the event, said abolishing the SRA and incorporating it with the Department of Agriculture will do more harm than good to the industry.

He pointed out that Luzon currently produces nine percent of the country’s total sugar supply, with the Batangas province being the biggest sugar producer in Luzon./DGB, WDJ