BACOLOD City Representative Greg Gasataya said Friday, March 17, the statement of Agriculture Emmanuel Piñol that he wants to hold in abeyance an order by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) regulating the entry of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) into the country could be a problem.
“It will be more problem if the SRA’s Sugar Order No.3 will not be implemented or will be revoked because lots of sugar farmer organizations are supportive of the proposal that the HFCS will be considered as ‘C’ (Reserved) sugar,” Gasataya said.
He said that on Wednesday, he met with the members of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations (Confed) and they aired their sentiments on the possible revocation of the sugar order.
Piñol had earlier told reporters that his recommendation to President Rodrigo Duterte is to authorize him to hold the sugar order in abeyance pending proper consultation with the stakeholders.
Gasataya said the Confed and other sugar farmer organizations are opposing the proposal.
Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez said Sugar Order No. 3 puts HFCS under the ambit of SRA.
“The SRA can now regulate the importation of such products, if there is excess production of sugar, they will put that on hold before the importation will be allowed to allow the sugar prices to be stable,” he said.
Benitez added that he will meet with Confed today to find ways on how to come up with agreements so that the sugar industry will still have market to sell.
He pointed out that as of now, 90 percent of the requirements of the softdrink companies are met by HFCS products, and sugar is only 10 percent.
