TALISAY CITY, Negros Occidental – In a recent public hearing held at Nature’s Village Resort, key stakeholders called for significant revisions to the Sugar Industry Development Act (SIDA), emphasizing the need for a more inclusive and responsive framework. The hearing, hosted by the House of Representatives, focused on proposals to amend the nine-year-old legislation.
Quezon 1st District Representative Wilfrido Mark Enverga, who chairs the House Committee on Agriculture and Food, emphasized the importance of these amendments, stating, “Our goal is to create a revised SIDA law that truly supports and enhances the sugarcane industry.”
Central to the discussions was House Bill 835, introduced by 1-Pacman Party-list Representative Michael Romero, which seeks to increase the mandatory budget allocation for SIDA from PHP2 billion to PHP5 billion. Additionally, the hearing examined House Bill 2207, proposed by Negros Oriental 2nd District Representative Manuel Sagarbarria, which aims to amend Sections 9 and 11 of Republic Act 10659, the original SIDA of 2015.
Section 9 of the current law mandates that importers must obtain authorization from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) before sugar can be released, while Section 11 requires the SRA to consult with relevant sectors when prioritizing programs and projects.
Pablo Luis Azcona, the SRA Administrator, highlighted the industry’s ongoing demand for a larger budget to effectively implement SIDA. “Despite our significant contributions to the national economy, we only receive PHP2 billion in return. The support we receive from the government is minimal,” Azcona remarked.
Since its inception, the SIDA has been underfunded, with only PHP8.645 billion allocated between 2016 and 2024. This includes just PHP1 billion per year for 2023 and 2024, far below the intended annual allocation.
Rep. Enverga expressed concern over the SRA’s ability to fully utilize the funds, stating, “We need to understand the challenges that are hindering the SRA’s ability to implement such a valuable program.”
Rep. Sagarbarria, in his proposed amendments, advocated for strengthening the authority of the SRA. “It’s crucial that we empower the SRA. Without this, the agency’s capacity to develop the industry is severely limited,” he said.
Negros Occidental 3rd District Representative Jose Francisco Benitez also called for collaborative efforts between government and private sector stakeholders to address the ongoing challenges facing the sugarcane industry, which remains a vital component of Negros’ economy.
The hearing saw participation from various sector representatives, including planters’ and producers’ federations, sugar millers’ associations, sugar worker groups, and officials from the Land Bank of the Philippines, Bureau of Customs, and other relevant government agencies. (PNA)