NextGen Day

The Governor of Negros Occidental, Eugenio Jose Lacson, stated on Wednesday that he does not believe a sugar crisis exists in the country despite reports of an impending supply shortage and rising retail prices.

“No, I don’t believe so. Remember this; the industry must be directed,” he advised reporters.

Negros Occidental, the leading sugar-producing province in the Philippines, contributes nearly 60 percent of the nation’s sugar output.

If there is a need to import sugar, the quantity can be determined to ensure that there will be no shortages now or in the future, as well as the timing for when the sugar should arrive, according to Lacson.

The governor stated that vigilance is also required because “when there is importation, there is a tendency for smuggling.”

“With these three guidelines, we will always be in a stable position, as the sugar industry has never stated that it is completely opposed to importation. It’s just that we need to agree on the volume, the timing, and of course, let’s keep an eye out for any possible smuggling,” he added.

“There is no dispute over that (importation). “It’s just that there are also sugar leaders who believe importation is acceptable, but only of refined sugar, not raw sugar,” he explained.

The governor stated that retail sugar is currently available in supermarkets, although prices have increased.

“It’s just the price, but obviously, we planters are not the ones who benefit from that. Always the merchants. I suppose agencies such as the Department of Commerce and Industry can investigate why prices are so high. “Certainly, planters do not benefit from these extremely high prices,” he said.

A certain brand of refined sugar costs more than PHP100 per kilogram in Bacolod.

Meanwhile, Lacson voiced his support for Negrense sugar leader Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama Jr.’s decision to remain in his position as an acting board member of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Board, representing the planters, until President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. makes a different decision.

Three additional officials who signed the rejected Sugar Order No. 4 for the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar have already resigned.

The governor stated that Valderrama was appointed by the Marcos administration, whereas the others were appointed by the previous administration.

“I concur with Mr. Valderrama that he will await the President’s decision. He is at the President’s disposal. “I don’t think he should resign; he should wait for the President’s decision,” said Lacson.

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