By CESAR JOLITO III
A national federation of sugar workers and agrarian reform beneficiaries has thrown its support behind legislative efforts to overhaul the country’s sugar industry, while calling for accountability over what it described as damaging importation policies.
The National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry in the Philippines (Nacusip) expressed “unwavering support” for Negros Occidental 3rd District Representative Javier Miguel Benitez following his filing of House Bill No. 9088, a proposed amendment to the Sugarcane Industry Development Act of 2015.
In a press statement, Nacusip said the measure offers a “ray of hope” for struggling farmers facing declining incomes and mounting losses, which the group attributed largely to excessive sugar importation.
Roland de la Cruz, Nacusip national president, said the lawmaker’s move breaks what he described as the “silence” of other officials amid a worsening crisis in the sector.
At the center of the controversy is Sugar Order No. 8, which allowed the importation of 424,000 metric tons of sugar — far exceeding the 150,000 metric tons that industry stakeholders said was necessary.
Nacusip alleged that the decision severely affected local producers and threatened the livelihood of small farmers.
“The crisis in the sugar industry is not just about numbers; it is about lives and livelihoods,” De la Cruz said, as the group demanded an investigation into the policy and those responsible for its approval.
Nacusip is also pushing for reforms within the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), particularly its governing board, which it said lacks sufficient representation from key stakeholders.
House Bill No. 9088, also known as the TUBO Act, proposes restructuring the SRA board to include representatives from farmers, millers, refiners, workers, agrarian reform beneficiaries, and industrial users.
The proposal aligns with House Bill No. 8376 backed by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, which seeks to institutionalize sectoral representation in the agency.
The group stressed that greater representation is essential to ensure that policies reflect the realities on the ground, particularly for farmers and workers who form the backbone of the sugar industry.
Nacusip urged Benitez to continue pursuing transparency and accountability, particularly in uncovering alleged irregularities in sugar importation policies.
“We will not rest until those responsible are held accountable,” De la Cruz said, adding that the organization is prepared to support future congressional inquiries into the issue.
The group concluded by reiterating its call for a “fair and just” sugar industry, emphasizing the need to prioritize the welfare of farmers over what it described as the “greed of a few.”/CJ, WDJ