By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The budget for the implementation of the Sugar Industry Development Act (SIDA) law has been hiked to P1 billion this year.

Negros Occidental 5th district Congressman Emilio Dino Yulo III, said on Tuesday, April 18, the increase is a significant development considering that the budget last year was only P750 million.

Yulo said, with the problems currently being faced by the sugar industry, even its full implementation and an accompanying P2 billion budget are not enough to answer the needs of the sugar industry.

He pointed out that under the components of the SIDA, some are underutilized while others are fully utilized.

Among the highly-utilized rates include the farm-to-mill roads, which have a 50 percent original allocation or P1 billion under SIDA, as well as the educational component.

“We have basic problems with the other three components. One is basic credit because of the too stringent requirements of the Land Bank of the Philippines which is outside the control of the SRA [Sugar Regulatory Administration],” Yulo said.

He further stated as to the farm mechanization component, there are strict rules when borrowing money for mechanization and another is bloc farming, which lies in attracting agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Enacted in 2015, the SIDA or Republic Act 10659 aims to promote the competitiveness of the sugarcane industry and maximize the utilization of sugarcane resources, and improve the income of farmers and farm workers, through improved productivity, product diversification, job generation, and increased efficiency of sugar mills.

Of the mandated P2 billion annual fund, P1 billion is allocated for infrastructure, mainly for farm-to-mill roads; P300 million for credit; P100 million for scholarships; P300 million for block farm of the land reform beneficiaries; and P300 million for shared facilities program.

However, the SRA was given P712 million in 2021 and 2022./DGB, WDJ