Sugar leaders from around the country met with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. yesterday, August 17, and recommended the need to import 150,000MT of sugar instead of the original plan of 300,000MT.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri who led the delegation said that they had a very productive two-hour meeting with the president and discussed the sugar importation problem and the issues surrounding the productivity of our farmers.
Zubiri said during the meeting it was acknowledged that there is a need to import sugar was acknowledged by the industrial and household consumers.
The consensus to import only half of the original target was based on available data, Zubiri said.
There were other initiatives recommended to the president to ease the increase in sugar prices, Zubiri added, however, it will let the president announce at the proper time.
The delegation included stakeholders from the farmers, millers, sugar workers, and refiners.
Zubiri said the president wanted to bring down the cost of the commodity at the same time keep the farmers happy with prices acceptable to all. It was truly a productive meeting with hopeful solutions for the sector, he added.
Also present at the meeting were Vice Gov Jeffrey Ferrer of Negros Occ., Roberto Cuenca AALCPI, Board Member Joeben Alonso, Miguel Hinojales NSF, Cornelio “Arnel” Toreja LUZONFED, Pablo Luis Azcona KABILOG, David P. Alba AALCPI Esteban Coscolluela BBM Negros Spokesperson, Atty Edgardo Acuña Negros Del Norte PA Andy and Janet Gonzaga CHA, Pablo “Pablum” Lobregat PSMA ,Judge Enrique Barcelona, Florencio Alonso Jr LCMDMPC, Rene Cabati URC Sure William Chua VMC, Lance Gokongwei URC and Rica Alba.
