A labor group is calling on government to increase the Sugar Industry Development Act (SIDA) annual fund and to also be consulted on issues involving the sugar industry.
“We support the demand to increase the SIDA budget but bank requirements for loans to agrarian reform beneficiaries should be lessened,” Wennie Sancho, General Alliance of Workers Association secretary general, said.
The SIDA requires an annual allocation of P2 billion for the sugar industry but the Department of Budget and Finance has not granted the full amount.
The recommended SIDA fund for next year is P1 billion that will be tackled by Congress during the budget deliberations.
House Bill No. 835 filed by Rep. Michael L. Romero (1-Pacman Partylist) is calling for an increase in the annual SIDA fund from P2 billion to P5 billion.
Sancho said transparency and accountability should be strictly observed in the disbursement of funds
“The failure of the government to capacitate the agricultural sector exacerbates the situation” of the sugar industry, he said.
“The issue hounding the sugar industry is like a vicious circle, from artificial sugar to importation and the right time for milling season,” he said, adding that the planters should get their acts together.
The unscrupulous sugar traders are getting rich at the expense of the sugar workers, he said.
“The problem is with the Sugar Regulatory Administration’s inconsistent policies, they should identify who are the planters and millers who are also sugar traders, to prevent conflict of interests,” he said.
Sancho also said there should be wide consultation on artificial sugar entering the country, like High Fructose Corn syrup, which should involve the workers, he also said.
“Please remember that the hands of the workers creates the wealth of the nation, we are your partners involve us in the decision making process,” he said.*