ILOILO CITY – Local officials of Aklan support the call of Ilonggo officials to scrap the allocation of sugar for the American market.
This was after the Aklan Provincial Board recently passed a resolution in support of the call initially made by the Iloilo Provincial Board that urges President Duterte to immediately stop further exportation of locally-produced sugar to the United States.
Iloilo 3rd District Provincial Board Member Matt Palabrica, the principal author of the resolution, welcomes Aklan’s support.
This is as the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) is about to give clearance for exporting Class A sugar to the United States.
Palabrica’s resolution, which is co-sponsored by Board Members Jason Gonzales and Rolito Cajilig, warns the negative impact of exporting Class A sugar for 20,000 sugar cane farmers in Iloilo province and local consumers.
“The exportation has no legal basis because no treaty or obligation that would support this program and the Philippines has no production that could surpass its local consumption,” Palabrica explained.
There’s also the price cut for Class A sugar bound for the United States. The Class A price is approximately Php 50 cheaper than Class B, which is only for local consumption.
Copies of the resolutions have been sent to Agriculture Secretary William Dar and SRA Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica.