Congressmen in Negros and the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) are pushing for the increase in funding from P2 billion to P5 billion each year for the Sugar Industry Development Act (SIDA).
The House committee on agriculture and food conducted a public hearing on the SIDA law in Talisay City, Negros Occidental on August 8, 2024.
“We (the sugar industry) contribute a big amount of money to the whole Philippines but only PHP2 billion is returned to us. We have very little assistance from the government,” SRA administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said.
“(We intend) to come up with a better SIDA law that is inclusive and beneficial to the sugarcane industry,” said Quezon 1st District Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food.
The public hearing deliberated on House Bill 835, which seeks to increase the mandatory appropriation for the SIDA implementation from PHP2 billion to PHP5 billion, introduced by 1-Pacman Party-list Rep. Michael Romero.
Also tackled was House Bill 2207, amending Sections 9 and 11 of Republic Act 10659, otherwise known as the SIDA of 2015, proposed by Negros Oriental 2nd District Rep. Manuel Sagarbarria.
Section 9 provides that the Bureau of Customs shall require importers and consignees to secure from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) an authorization to import and the classification of the imported sugar before its release.
Section 11 requires the SRA to conduct prior consultation with all concerned sectors in identifying and prioritizing specific programs and projects.
