The Negros Occidental provincial government fully supports the proposed “Purchase and Park” program to address the current surplus in sugar stocks, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Wednesday, April 8.
The proposed government-led buying program, also known as the “Purchase and Park Program”, is contained in a manifesto signed by leaders of all sugar federations, millers and refiners, labor, agrarian reform beneficiaries and allied non-government organizations pending before the Office of President.
“As the sugar capital of the Philippines, our province recognizes the vital role of the sugar industry in sustaining the livelihood of thousands of Negrense farmers, workers, and their families,” Lacson said.
“We stand in agreement with this timely intervention and respectfully express our hope that President Marcos will approve the proposal. We likewise urge swift action to help stabilize prices, protect our producers, and ensure the continued vitality of an industry that is central to our economy and identity,” Lacson said.
At the same time, Lacson appealed to landowners to extend support to their farm workers by allowing them to cultivate food crops within available areas of their lands, as a temporary measure to help ensure food sufficiency while this situation is being addressed.
“In this time of challenge, shared responsibility and compassion will go a long way in sustaining our communities,” he said.
Sugar industry stakeholders are hoping the president will approve a proposed government-led sugar buying program soon to address the problem of oversupply, Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama, Jr., president of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Association (CONFED), earlier said.
Valderrama said he was informed that Agriculture Sec. Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. has endorsed the proposal of the sugar industry stakeholders to the president.
“The over-supply was caused in large measure by the excessive importation of refined sugar. Inevitably, this led mill gate prices of locally produced sugar to plunge,” Valderrama said.
“We need to immediately take out the excess sugar in the market to bring stocks to a reasonable and profitable level. Whatever excess is taken out should also be refined to further delay, if not render unnecessary, the importation of refined sugar,” he said. *
Ronnie Baldonado file photo
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