By CESAR JOLITO III

A proposed measure in the House of Representatives seeks to expand the governing board of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to include representatives from sugar workers, agrarian reform beneficiaries and consumer groups in policymaking for the country’s sugar industry.

House Bill No. 8376, filed by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) Party-list, aims to amend the agency’s charter to broaden membership in the Sugar Board.

The proposal seeks to provide formal representation for sugar field workers, sugar mill workers, ethanol mill workers, agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), and consumers.

TUCP’s Raymond Democrito Mendoza said the measure would address long-standing concerns about limited sectoral representation in decisions affecting the sugar industry.

Mendoza noted that workers and farmers play a central role in sustaining the sector but have historically had minimal participation in regulatory policy discussions.

The bill was recommended by Roland de la Cruz, who said expanding the Sugar Board would allow labor groups and ARBs to directly contribute to discussions on policies that affect production, pricing and industry welfare.

Advocates of the proposal said the measure could improve transparency and accountability in the sugar sector by ensuring that policies reflect not only the interests of producers and millers but also the welfare of workers, farmers and consumers.

If approved, the bill would amend SRA’s charter to institutionalize broader representation on the board responsible for regulating and overseeing the country’s sugar industry./CJ, WDJ