“I, Manny Piñol, Secretary of Agriculture, do hereby declare that Sugar Order No. 3 is here to stay. “
This was the assurance given by the agri chief to the members of the sugar industry in Negros Occidental on September 29, 2017.
Piñol met with the stakeholders of the province’s sugar sector, as part of his two-day Biyaheng Bukid engagement, to thresh out issues hounding the industry that forms part of the big chunk of the agriculture economy in Western Negros.
Sugar Order # 3, signed on February of this year, sets the guidelines for the issuance of clearance for the release of imported high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and chemically pure fructose.
The order was directed by then Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Administrator Anna Rosario V. Paner after several complaints from farmers, millers and workers reached SRA regarding the unregulated importation of HFCS. The uncontrolled trading affected the production of the local sugar, according to the reports.
With newly installed SRA Administrator Herminigildo Serafica, Piñol assured stakeholders that the DA and SRA will work together towards the development of the sugar industry.
In line with this commitment, Piñol ordered the establishment of three solar powered irrigation systems in the province.
“Each module, to be established in strategic locations around Negros Occidental, can irrigate 30-50 hectares of sugar land,” the Secretary said.
Before meeting with the stakeholders, Piñol also had a dialogue with the Negros Occidental Chapter of the National Federation of Sugarcane Workers who presented a consolidated position paper requesting for stricter restrictions on the importation of sugar.
“Other than the HFCS, which passes thru very stringent measures, there has been no importation of sugar since President Duterte stepped into office,” Piñol said.
He stressed that the strict requirements will be maintained to protect the welfare of all parties concerned.
Piñol added, that the SRA is mandated to establish and maintain a balanced relation between production and requirement of sugar to ensure stabilized prices profitable to the producers and fair to consumers.
“You need not worry,” he assured.
Also included in the position paper is the request of farmers for livelihood and educational assistance from the government. To this, Piñol informed the group that DA, has made available an easy-access, collateral-free financial assistance under the Agricultural Credit Policy Council.
“You just need to register to the Juan Magsasaka ID System and p’wede na kayo mangutang,” he said.
“The whole idea of the ID system is to make sure that we are providing grants and assistance to legitimate farmers, dahil gusto namin yun talagang mga totoong magsasaka at mangingisda ang aming natutulungan,” he added.
Piñol also urged the farmers to undergo the Makinadong Magsasaka Program of DA in partnership with TESDA. According to the Secretary, farmers must learn how to repair and maintain farm equipment and machineries to keep at pace and cope with the nationwide agriculture mechanization.
“After training, you can be Farm Service Providers, and no one will be displaced,” he said.
Furthermore, the secretary added that DA will be awarding the province a multiplier farm project to be managed by organized groups.
“We will give you native pigs to raise, but you must first organize yourselves to maximize the benefits of what we give you,” he ended.
With regards to the educational assistance, Piñol said that the DA and SRA have established a scholarship program, which grants financial aid up to college.
“The SRA has allotted P100-million (M) in educational assistance for 2018,” he said.
Piñol added that under the Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, the Department has set aside P500-M to provide assistance to the children of farmers and fishers who wish to take agri-fishery related courses. ### (odarodriguez/DA-AFID)
