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Gilbert Bayoran - The Philippine Star
January 25, 2026 | 12:00am
The warning, which was contained in a position paper submitted by the Confederation of Sugarcane Producers Association Inc. (CONFED), was aired by former Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) chief Rafael Coscolluela during a public consultation conducted by the Senate and House of Representatives on Friday in Talisay City.
Philstar.com / File photo
BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Sugar stakeholders in Negros Occidental have expressed alarm over the declining millgate prices of sugar and mollasses, saying the industry’s foregone revenues may exceed P20 billion in June if the problem is not addressed properly.
The warning, which was contained in a position paper submitted by the Confederation of Sugarcane Producers Association Inc. (CONFED), was aired by former Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) chief Rafael Coscolluela during a public consultation conducted by the Senate and House of Representatives on Friday in Talisay City.
CONFED blamed the drastic decline in millgate prices to over-supply of imported refined sugar, large inventories of raw sugar, unchecked molasses importation and unregulated entry of sugar substitutes.
The group also cited rising labor cost, lack of manpower, pest infestations and natural calamities as among the causes of the decline in the price of the commodity.
From October to December last year, the decline in the millgate prices resulted in foregone revenues of P5.3 billion from sugar sales, and P1.73 billion from molasses sales or a total of P7.28 billion.
Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, chairman of the House committee on agriculture and food, said the public consultation was intended to directly support an upcoming congressional inquiry in aid of legislation.
“This public consultation will be used for our official inquiry in aid of legislation. This is definitely not a show,” Enverga said.
Meanwhile, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan said the Senate would review recommendations on the procedures by which sugar importation is decided upon.
Pangilinan stressed the need for a baseline of consumption and demand to determine if there is a shortfall.
He vowed to push measures intended to give cash assistance to sugar farmers and small planters to mitigate the impact of the drop in the millgate price of locally-produced sugar.
