Makati City Mayor and senatorial aspirant Abby Binay on Thursday, Feb. 20, called on the national government to set a clear-cut policy to stop importing sugar during the harvest season, saying that this is one of the most effective ways to help Filipino farmers and the sugar industry.

Binay made the statement during her party's proclamation rally in Dumaguete where she met with officers and members of the Asociacion Agricola de Bais Y Tanjay Inc. and discussed issues facing the sugar industry.

"So let us make a clear policy. Kapag panahon ng ani, kapag panahon ng harvest, no importation. That has to be clearly in black and white, at panghawakan ‘yon ng farmers natin (So let us make a clear policy. During harvest time, there will be no importation. That has to be clearly in black and white because that is what our farmers are going to hold on to)," she said.

The mayor explained that only 20 percent of the country’s sugar supply is imported while 80 per cent is locally sourced.

"There is a big potential for the country to become a major producer of sugar if policies are put in place to encourage investors to build modern sugar mills. This will also help bring down the price of sugar in the market," Binay said.

"I think we also need to have an environment that is conducive for private investors to come in, bring in their money. Sila po ang magtayo ng magandang milling para bumaba po ang presyo ng sugar (They will be the ones who will build good millings to help decrease the price of sugar)," she added.

Binay also underscored the economic benefits of achieving self-sufficiency in sugar production.

"Imagine if we become 100 per cent reliant on local produce, and we can even export our sugar, ang laki po ng tulong nito sa ekonomiya ng Negros,” the local chief executive noted.