Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona on Thursday, January 23, expressed optimism about the strong support extended by industry stakeholders to the agency and the Department of Agriculture.

Azcona shared updates after meeting with representatives from various sugar industry sectors to discuss Sugar Order No. 2, which promotes voluntary purchase of local sugar for reclassification to reserve sugar, allowing allocation in future importation programs.

“This was received well by industry stakeholders, particularly the farmers’ group, as this is expected to stabilize prices at a level reasonably profitable to our farmers as well as to our consumers,” Azcona said.

Those who attended the meeting, held at the SRA office in Bacolod City on January 21, were from the Philippine Sugar Millers Association, Philippine Association of Sugar Refiners Inc., and the major sugar federations, including the United Sugar Producers Federation (Unifed), Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations (Confed), National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP) and Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers (PanayFed).

He expressed confidence that continued industry collaboration would benefit the sector.

Azcona said that Sugar Order No. 2 provides opportunities for licensed domestic sugar traders, including individual farmers, groups, and cooperatives, to participate in the program.

The initiative, similar to last year’s program, ensures a performance-based import allocation system, rewarding those who support local farmers with larger future import allocations.

The Sugar Council, composed of Confed, NFSP and PanayFed, praised Azcona for developing the program and consulting stakeholders before finalizing the sugar order.

They expressed optimism about the program’s potential to support sugar farmers and foster further collaboration within the industry. (PNA)