By CESAR JOLITO III
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has renewed his call for decisive congressional action to address the worsening sugar price crisis that continues to batter farmers and agricultural workers in Negros Occidental, the country’s top sugar-producing province.
With mill-gate prices remaining low, Lacson said the upcoming congressional hearing on the sugar industry, scheduled for late February 2026, must go beyond short-term interventions and deliver reforms that will stabilize prices and protect local producers.
The governor stressed that sugar planters and farm workers have endured prolonged financial strain, with many reporting shrinking incomes and scaled-back operations.
He warned that without immediate and sustained policy support, the situation could further erode livelihoods in rural communities heavily dependent on agriculture.
Central to Lacson’s appeal is the regulation of sugar and agricultural imports.
He said unchecked importation has intensified competition for local producers, pushing prices down and making it difficult for farmers to recover production costs.
According to the governor, a clear and enforceable national policy on imports should apply not only to sugar but to all agricultural commodities.
Lacson’s call follows a public consultation and legislative meeting held in Talisay City on January 23, where lawmakers, industry leaders, sugar planters and farm workers discussed the depth of the crisis.
Participants cited declining revenues, job insecurity and uncertainty in the industry’s future, underscoring the urgency of legislative intervention.
As pressure mounts on the sugar sector, Lacson said the forthcoming congressional hearing represents a critical opportunity for lawmakers to translate stakeholder concerns into concrete measures that will raise prices, restore confidence and ensure the long-term sustainability of the agricultural sector.
He emphasized that failure to act swiftly could have far-reaching consequences, not only for Negros Occidental but for the national economy, as agriculture remains a key source of employment and food security./CJ, WDJ