Philippines : Sugar farmers to rally over plunging sugar, molasses prices today
Sugar farmers across Panay will rally January 22 in Passi City, protesting falling sugar and molasses prices blamed on excessive imports and weak policy. Led by JSPA, the protest precedes a January 23 congressional hearing on the price slump’s impact on farmers, workers, and the sugar industry.
BACOLOD City — Sugar farmers and their families from across Panay are set to stage a rally today, January 22, at the Passi Public Plaza to protest the continued decline in sugar and molasses prices, which they say is threatening the survival of farming households and the sugar industry.
The rally is spearheaded by the Jalasig Sugarcane Planters Association (JSPA), in coordination with other planters’ groups and sugar industry stakeholders in Panay.
In a press statement, JSPA President Hernando Y. Divinagracia Jr. said persistently low mill-gate prices have resulted in mounting financial losses for sugar farmers.
“We are holding this rally to emphasize the severity of our plight. The consistently low mill-gate prices of sugar and molasses have caused widespread losses and now threaten the sustainability of the sugar industry,” Divinagracia said.
He attributed the situation to unregulated and excessive importation, as well as the lack of clear, transparent, and institutionalized government policies, which he said have distorted the market and undermined farmers’ incomes.
Divinagracia urged the government to take immediate action to address the crisis and called on fellow sugar farmers to join the gathering to collectively voice their demand for fair and equitable pricing of sugar and molasses.
The rally will serve as a prelude to a public hearing scheduled on Friday, January 23, at Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City, Negros Occidental. The hearing is organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture and Food, chaired by Rep. Wilfrido Mark M. Enverga.
The congressional inquiry stems from separate House resolutions filed by Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Javier Miguel L. Benitez and Capiz 1st District Rep. Howard A. Guinto, seeking to examine the sharp drop in mill-gate prices of sugar and molasses and its economic impact on sugar producers, farmers, and workers.
“We are preparing a manifesto outlining the concerns of our sugar farmers, which will be discussed during the rally on Thursday and formally presented to our honorable congressmen during the public hearing on Friday,” Divinagracia said./PN
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Source : Panay News
