THE governor of Bukidnon said he is open to the solution presented by President Rodrigo Duterte to address the unabated entry of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in the country.
Bukidnon Governor Jose Maria Zubiri Jr. who was in Bacolod City Thursday, April 6, said the President is appealing to stakeholders to give the beverage firms six months to utilize the more than 300,000 tons of HFCS, which was held in various ports in the country, before strictly implementing the sugar order regulating its importation.
Sugar Order 3 of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) was issued on February 17, and was set to take effect on March 10.
Beverage firms are seeking the release of the HFCS shipments which arrived in the country before the March 10 effectivity of the order, and not yet covered by the new regulation. They are using HFCS as alternative sugar for the manufacture of softdrinks, however, its importation caused a massive drop in sugar prices, according to industry stakeholders.
Zubiri, a sugarcane planter himself who hails from Kabankalan City, said he is okay with the suggestion although he admitted that the use of HFCS is “damaging” to the industry, “that’s why the prices are low.”
After, beverage giants will not be allowed to import HFCS. If they would still import, there will imposition of higher tariff, Zubiri said.
He appealed to the sugar industry leaders to give the President a chance as the latter is “kind enough” to look into the issue.
He said he is “grateful” to the President, adding that there’s a “light” now for the sugar industry.
Zubiri also lauded SRA Administrator Anna Rosario Paner who stood her ground and defended the sugar order regulating the HFCS entry.
Zubiri hits Piñol
Moreover, Zubiri took a swipe at Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol for recently conducting a dialogue with the beverage firms without the presence of sugar industry leaders.
“With due respect to Piñol, he has no right to negotiate with any company using sugar. He should respect the industry which belongs to the Filipino people,” the Bukidnon governor said.
Zubiri added that he had been calling the Cabinet official, but the latter never answered his calls.
He said he’d like to ask Piñol to give a good reason why would he favor the multi-national companies rather than the industry.
Sugar vs corn
Zubiri said he heard reports that HFCS users are planning to construct a processing plant in the country, but he doesn’t know where.
He feared that these companies would pit the sugar and corn industries.
“I don’t want that to happen,” he said, adding that corn is cheaper compare to sugar.
With this, he is proposing a meeting in Negros Occidental this May, adding that Piñol and all farmers’ associations in the country will be invited to “discuss this further.”
He said he will also ask Piñol about his plans for the sugar industry. About five million people are depending on the sugar industry for their livelihood.
“If the fructose plant will start constructing, we’re screwed,” Zubiri said, adding that he doesn’t know if the sugar industry could stop it.
Coca-Cola Femsa Philippines had sought a temporary restraining order on SRA’s sugar order, which the court denied, but its petition for injunction is pending. The next hearing will be held on May 10.
The Provincial Government had already banned the sponsorship and sale of Coke products in the Panaad sa Negros Festival this month.
The towns of Hinigaran and Isabela had also banned the sale of Coke products in their respective festivals.
More than 40 restaurants and business establishments in Negros Occidental have stopped serving Coke products.
The Sugar Alliance of the Philippines and other industry stakeholders are also preparing for the Senate hearing on the importation of HFCS on April 18.