Sugar workers and their allies have declared their opposition to recent price increases in the price of sugar in the market and announced their plan to hold a protest action, Monday infront of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) , during a Press conference yesterday at the Negros Press Club (NPC) Office.

The protest action would be in the form of picket. The leaders of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW), Anakpawis Partylist and their allies, Gabriela- Negros, also declared that they were against the government plan to import sugar to fill up the purported forthcoming shortage in the supply of the commodity which had zoomed to as much as P60 per kilo for refined sugar. The Kilisang Mayo Uno-Negros reinforced the leaders’ declaration saying this was unjustified.

NFSW Council member, Gerundio Dagoob, opined that it was premature for the government to claim there was a shortage of the commodity, saying there was enough sugar for the 2009-2010 cropyear. The government plans to import 150,000 tons of sugar which costs higher because of the lack of supply brought about by crop failures in sugar-growing countries due to devastation to sugarcane plantations brought about by climate change because of global warming. News report worldwide indicated that super typhoons caused floods which wiped out sugarcane crops in Latin-America and India.

The government plan to import sugar also came under close scrutiny from sugar industry players who are grouped under the Philippine Sugar Alliance (PSA) which only agreed to the importation as long as it was done after the May elections or in April this year. a sugar planter’s association leader, Manuel Lamata of the United Sugar Producers’ Federation (UNIFED) had earlier vehemently opposed sugar importations saying that part of the proceeds could be used as election campaign funds.

He and other leaders agreed to the importation but only in the months they specified.

Importation could also be a must, added Lamata then, as the sugar production next cropyear would be greatly affected by the expected debilitating effects of climate change which could result in a lack of rain.

Recently, provincial agriculture officials announced that the El Niño or effects of the early dry season have affected close to 50 hectares of agricultural land. Lamata had also earlier said that the lack of sugar in the Luzon area was due to the fact that the sugar refinery, Don Pedro Rojas in Batangas is not producing as much as it should because of a breakdown in its machineries which cannot easily be repaired.

There was plenty of sugar in the province but which cannot just as easily be shipped to Manila.

But suspicious diehard leaders of the various sectoral organizations insist there is manipulation of sugar prices for the benefit of suagr planters, traders and millers with farm workers still holding an empty bag. KMU-Negros Ronald Ian Evidente and Anak-pawis Rani Lava, said if indeed, those in the industry are raking in huge profits because of the higher price of sugar, this should have a trickle-down effect for workers including those in the farms and sugar mills but, unfortunately, there has been none.

The benefits of higher sugar prices cannot be felt by workers. they continue to receive the same miniscule wages and are bereft of benefits they are entitled to and which are mandated by law.The government should look into the situation of sugar planters and traders who are suffering from a system that is as archaic as the sugar plantation in the island.*