Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito met with sugar leaders in Negros Occidental on Friday, October 14, to discuss how the Sugarcane Industry Development Act can be improved to make it more effective.
“I’m frustrated because after its passage it seems nothing happened because of too much importation”, he said.
“I am against too much sugar importation,” Ejercito said.
The intention of the law was to aid the sugar industry to improve its production and competitiveness, he said.
Ejercito said he met with leaders of the United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines and Confederation of Sugar Producers to get their recommendations.
“We gave him some insights, talks are ongoing,” UNIFED president Manuel Lamata said.
Ejercito said he is also asking the industry leaders what can be done to maximize the use of the P2 billion supposed to be allocated for the sugar industry annually under the SIDA.
The Department of Budget and Finance has cut the amount allocated for the industry because of slow utilization, he pointed out.
The senator said he was also meeting with Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Benitez Friday night.
Ejercito authored the SIDA in the Senate and Benitez, then congressman of the Third District of Negros Occidental, in the Lower House. It was signed into law by former President Benigno Aquino III on March 27, 2015.
The senator said he is also joining the MassKara Unity Ride at Megaworld’s The Upper East on Saturday, October 16.
Hosting Saturday’s ride is the Thunderbugs Bacolod Motorcycle Club.*