By Owen S. Bayog

Militants took the streets in another protest action on Sugar Price Hike in front of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) building and compound yesterday morning. Members of the Militant Bagong Alyansang Makaba-yan (BAYAN) along with several farmers and sugar workers from Escalante City trooped to SRA to register several points during their protest action.

Ronald Ian Evidente, spokesperson of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) said that the government’s inaction to control price increases is to condition the minds of people and justify the need to import sugar.

"Sugar importation will lead to the destruction of the local economy of Negros which is based on sugar," "Farmworkers and Sugarwor-kers will most likely suffer the consequences if the Government does not put a stop to soaring prices of sugar and other basic commodities," Evidente added.

In a TV interview over ABS-CBN, 3rd District Congressman Jose Carlos "Kako" Lacson said the increase today is the chance for sugar planters to rebound from their losses during the last two years. The solon added that this will not take long and will be over by next year.

Militant members of BAYAN along with their allied organizations vowed to wage protest actions and push the government to take action on the sugar hike. "Negros as a monocrop economy has a major chunk of the population who depend on sugar - this should be considered and looked upon by leaders of the province and national government as well," Evidente concluded.*