Solons seek better shield for RP sugar

BACOLOD CITY – Congressmen from sugar producing areas in Negros Occidental supported calls to increase tariff protection for Philippine sugar to shield it from the influx of cheaper imported sugar.

The congressmen supported a resolution calling for the transfer of refined sugar from the country’s sensitive to highly sensitive list under the ASEAN Free Trade-Common Effective Preferential Tariff.

The transfer would protect Philippine sugar from cheap imports.

In a recent interview, Negros Occidental 3rd district Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson said the move was necessary to ensure that tariffs continue to be imposed on highly subsidized sugar from neighboring countries entering the Philippines to protect the domestic sugar industry from collapse.

Lacson said Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr. (Neg. Occ., 5th District) suggested the drafting of the resolution at the first Western Visayas Regional Advisory Committee meeting between members of the Regional Development Council and congressmen of the region at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City Wednesday.

Arroyo also suggested that the resolution be signed by congressmen from all the sugar producing areas in the country, according to Lacson.

Members of the Western Visayas RDC, led by Antique Gov. Salvacion Perez, decided to hold quarterly meetings with the congressmen of the region to ensure congressional support on issues concerning Western Visayas, Lacson said.

The Philippine sugar industry is reeling from the effects of continued smuggling and the entry of cheaper imported sugar.