Sugar Stakeholders Unite for Industry Stability

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – The sugar industry has entered 2025 on a positive note as stakeholders gathered for a consultative assembly to support the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).

SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona highlighted the significance of the gathering, stating, “The last time industry stakeholders were all represented in a consultative assembly was exactly a year ago, and this recent gathering that shows we are united bodes well for our sugar industry.”

The assembly, held Tuesday at the SRA office in Bacolod City, brought together representatives from planters groups, millers, refiners, traders, importers, and exporters to discuss Sugar Order No. 2. This order encourages the voluntary purchase of local sugar for reclassification as reserve sugar, providing stakeholders with access to future import allocations.

Azcona emphasized the order’s potential to stabilize sugar prices, benefiting both farmers and consumers. “This is expected to stabilize prices at a level reasonably profitable to our farmers as well as to our consumers,” he said.

He added that the program is open to all holders of domestic sugar trading licenses, allowing individual farmers, farmers’ groups, associations, and cooperatives to participate.

“This program removes any subjectivity in the import allocation process because allocation will be performance-based,” Azcona explained. “Those who support and purchase more from our local farmers will be given a bigger allocation in our future import programs.”

The initiative received strong support from farmers’ groups, who praised its potential to ensure fair pricing and equitable access to import programs.

The gathering was attended by representatives from the Philippine Sugar Millers Association, the Philippine Association of Sugar Refiners Inc., and major sugar federations.

Azcona expressed optimism about the industry’s direction, saying, “This coming together shows we are off to a good start this year, and both the DA and the SRA hope that this enthusiasm from our industry stakeholders will continue.”

The consultative assembly marks a promising step toward unity and collaboration in the sugar industry, setting the tone for a more stable and productive year ahead.