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BY MAE SINGUAY
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Wednesday, May 17, 2017
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MANILA – A congressman will propose a law that will require importers of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to pay excise taxes.
A sugar industry group leader, on the other hand, suggested amending the Sugar Industry Development Act of 2015 to include the regulation of the use of the imported alternative sweetener.
These were the possible solutions to the alleged adverse effect of HFCS use and importation on the local sugar industry which stakeholders came up with during a congressional hearing yesterday.
The House of Representatives committee on agriculture and food held the inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the impact of HFCS importation, sale and use on the sugar industry and the economy.
Committee member Horacio Suansing Jr. (Sultan Kudarat, 2nd District) said he plans to file today a bill that will impose excise taxes on HFCS upon arrival at ports of entry manned by the Bureau of Customs.
Suansing said he has yet to coordinate with the Department of Finance, which supervises the Customs bureau, regarding the amount of excise tax.
The congressman believes the measure will remedy the “excessive importation” of HFCS and “protect” sugar producers and farmers.
Amending the Sugar Industry Development Act might help, too, said Sugar Alliance of the Philippines spokesperson Dino Yulo.
While it mandates the implementation of “productivity improvement programs” to boost the production of sugarcane and sugar, and increase the income of sugarcane farmers/planters and farmworkers, the law does not mention HFCS.
Productivity enhancement measures contained in the law were block farming, farm support and farm mechanization.
The law also mandates the provision of “infrastructure support,” including transport infrastructure, farm-to-mill roads and irrigation.
Agriculture and food committee chairman Jose Panganiban Jr. (ANAC-IP party-list) led the inquiry.
Another congressional hearing on the matter will be held after Congress’ recess in June. The schedule has not been set yet.
Panganiban asked all concerned sectors to submit position papers before the next inquiry./PN
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