MAAYONG AGA SA ATONG TANAN (GOOD MORNING TO ALL OF US). WE ARE HERE TODAY IN NEGROS — THE COUNTRY’S SUGAR BOWL — WHERE GENERATIONS HAVE BUILT LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS FROM CANE, MILLS, AND THE COMMUNITIES AROUND THEM.
WE ARE HERE WITH ONE PURPOSE: TO LISTEN, TO BE CANDID ABOUT THE CRISIS WE FACE, AND TO AGREE ON PRACTICAL AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS THAT PROTECT FARMERS, WORKERS, COMMUNITIES, AND THE INDUSTRY.
ANO ANG NAKATAYA? THE SUGAR INDUSTRY IS A 70- TO 76-BILLION-PESO PILLAR OF OUR ECONOMY. IT DIRECTLY EMPLOYS ABOUT 700,000 WORKERS AND SUPPORTS AN ESTIMATED 5 TO 6 MILLION FILIPINOS WHO DEPEND ON IT. THESE NUMBERS ARE FAMILIES, CHILDREN, AND ENTIRE TOWNS WHOSE FUTURES RISE AND FALL ON EVERY MILLING SEASON.
WE MUST ALSO CONFRONT A DEEPER STRUCTURAL MISMATCH. RAW SUGAR PRODUCTION IS AT A FIVE-YEAR HIGH, YET REFINING OUTPUT AND PREMIUM CAPACITY HAVE LAGGED BEHIND. WE HAVE HIGH RAW INVENTORIES AT THE FARM AND MILL LEVEL, BUT CONSUMERS FACE HIGH RETAIL PRICES. PARANG NARINIG NA NATIN ITO DATI.
THIS DISCONNECT POINTS TO YEARS OF UNDERINVESTMENT, AGING MILLS, LIMITED REFINING CAPACITY, AND THE UNUTILIZED FUNDS MEANT TO MODERNIZE THE SECTOR.
ON TOP OF THIS IS THE POLICY UNCERTAINTY. WE SEE DEBATES OVER VOLUME OF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS, CONCERNS ABOUT GOVERNANCE AT THE SUGAR REGULATORY ADMINISTRATION, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE’S IMPORT MORATORIUM AND SUGAR ORDERS 2 AND 3, AMONG OTHERS. THE QUESTION BEFORE US IS SIMPLE AND URGENT: ARE THESE MEASURES ENOUGH TO PROTECT A 70-BILLION-PESO INDUSTRY AND THE MILLIONS OF LIVES CONNECTED TO IT?
OUR AGENDA TODAY IS FOCUSED ON THREE BIG QUESTIONS:
(FIRST,) WHAT CAN BE DONE NOW TO STABILIZE PRICES AND INCOMES? SECOND, HOW DO WE FIX RECURRING STRUCTURAL BOTTLENECKS: CAPACITY, INVESTMENT, AND GOVERNANCE? THIRD, HOW DO WE COMPLETE AND IMPLEMENT A CREDIBLE SUGAR INDUSTRY ROADMAP, FIRMLY LINKED TO SIDA BUDGETS AND A COHERENT TRADE POLICY?
THIS PUBLIC CONSULTATION MATTERS BECAUSE REAL REFORM CANNOT BE DESIGNED FROM CONGRESS ALONE.
I PERSONALLY COMMIT TO TRANSLATING YOUR INPUTS INTO LEGISLATIVE AND BUDGETARY ACTION.
IN RETURN, WE ASK FOR CONCRETE PROPOSALS ON POSSIBLY PRICE FLOORS, PROGRAM DESIGN, SIDA PRIORITIES, AND MEANINGFUL REFORMS AT THE S.R.A.
LET US BE FRANK, PRACTICAL, AND HELP ONE ANOTHER. SO THAT THE SUGAR INDUSTRY CAN ONCE AGAIN BE A SOURCE OF STABILITY, NOT UNCERTAINTY, FOR NEGROS AND THE NATION. DURO GID NGA SALAMAT! ##