BACOLOD CITY – Seven years after the passage of the Sugarcane Industry Development Act (SIDA), Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito expressed his dismay that the industry has not attained self-sufficiency, despite the annual earmarked budget of P2 billion.
The sugarcane industry should been already self-sufficient, with less importation, and production, seven years after, said Ejercito, who was the guest of honor and speaker at the opening of 30th edition of Panaad sa Negros festival on April 13.
Ejercito, one of the authors of SIDA, separately met yesterday with sugar industry leaders, those affiliated with the United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines (UNIFED) and the Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations, Inc. (CONFED), to solicit their input on how to further address the plight of the sugar industry, as he pushed for SIDA amendments.
The senator said he wants clarification why the P2 billion annual budget earmarked for SIDA, which was even lowered to P300 million, was not maximized for utilization.
Ejercito, who had initial talks with Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Governor Jose Benito Alonso on the problems of the sugar industry, also noted importation of sugar, rice, and onions, even during the harvest season.
It seems the Department of Agriculture appears to be in importation, the senator said, recalling that the Philippines was the one exporting sugar, rice, and other agricultural products to other countries. Now, we are the ones importing from them, he added.
Being among the authors of SIDA Act 2015, Ejercito said he wants it to work, especially for Negros, having sugar as its most vital industry, noting also that his mother, former Mayor Guia Gomez, is also a Negrense.
The senator said he will conduct another consultation with farmers, business leaders and other sugar industry stakeholders in his next visit to Negros Occidental, to get their feedback on the proposed SIDA amendments. (Gilbert Bayoran via tvds photo by tvds)