By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is concerned that the further drop in sugar prices will badly affect small farmers in the province.

According to Lacson, if prices go down considerably, it may conform to the consumers, and small sugar planters will be affected the most.

“I hope that the volume and timing of importing sugar will not lead to a considerable drop in prices,” Lacson said.

Earlier this week, Senator Risa Hontiveros labeled the recently signed Sugar Order No. 6 (SO6) as “government-sponsored smuggling.”

The senator said large shipments of sugar had already arrived ahead of the issuance of SO6, which allowed the importation of 440,000 metric tons of refined sugar.

Lacson said that the information Hontiveros gave had already been denied.

“We’re here to just observe if indeed it’s true,” Lacson said.

He further said if there is really strong evidence, the Senate should consider investigating it./DGB, WDJ