Be competitive, local sugar producers told

[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]

[av_heading tag=’h3′ padding=’10’ heading=’Be competitive, local sugar producers told’ color=” style=’blockquote modern-quote’ custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ custom_class=”]
BY MAE SINGUAY
[/av_heading]

[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=’#0a0a0a’]
Monday, February 20, 2017
[/av_textblock]

[av_image src=’http://www.panaynews.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/negros-mae-villar-711×321.jpg’ attachment=’97214′ attachment_size=’entry_with_sidebar’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=’yes’ font_size=’14’ appearance=’on-hover’ overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’]
Sen. Cynthia Villar says the Sugarcane Industry Development Act of 2015 could help local sugar producers overcome the supposed threat posed by the high-fructose corn sugar. MAE SINGUAY/PN
[/av_image]

[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=’#0a0a0a’]

BACOLOD City – Sen. Cynthia Villar urged local producers to be competitive to overcome threats to the sugar industry.

While the senator supports the proposed investigation into the importation and use of high-fructose corn sugar (HFCS), she also believes it is important for the local sugar industry to strive to get ahead.

Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Richard Gordon sought a Senate inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the impact of the HFCS on the domestic sugar industry and the need to review government policies on the importation of the sweetener.

Greg Gasataya (Bacolod City) and other representatives from Negros Island and other sugar-producing provinces sought a similar action at the House.

Critics claimed the massive importation of the sweetener threatens the financial viability of the local sugar industry.

Villar, who keynoted the Farmers’ Day in Bago City, Negros Occidental on Sunday, vowed to “support anything that will help the sugar industry” but stressed that local producers must stand up to the competition.

And the Sugarcane Industry Development Act of 2015 could help address any problem the sugar producers are facing — including the HFCS — she said.

“We passed the Sugarcane Industry Development Act, which provides a P2-billion [annual] budget for the industry,” said Villar, who coauthored the law.

She said the law was approved in anticipation of the “age of liberalization.”

“Maraming magbabago sa market,” Villar said.

“Ito na iyong sinasabi natin na mga darating na kalaban natin. Kaya tayo nagpasa ng Act, nagbigay ng budget sa sugar industry, because sabi nila ito iyong kailangan nilang budget to be able to compete in a liberalized environment,” she said.

Villar said the P2-billion allocation under the law was intended for several purposes: infrastructure, mechanization, research and development, and education of sugarcane farmworkers’ children.

She stressed that the amount must be used to empower the producers to set out products at a low cost, adding that the Sugar Regulatory Administration also has a budget to improve the industry./PN

[/av_textblock]

[/av_one_full]