Coke oks validity of SO3 — SRA

BACOLOD CITY — The Sugar Alliance of the Philippines (SAP) and other industry stakeholders are gearing up for the battle that is expected to ensue in the forthcoming Senate hearing against the unabated importation of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) that resulted in a huge drop in local sugar prices.

Sugar Regulatory Administrator Anna Rosario Paner disclosed that Coca-Cola or Coke already accepted the validity of Sugar Order No. 3 (SO3), which regulates the entry of HFCS into the country. “There will be no suspension or moratorium of SO3 for six months. It is already enforced,” she said.

Paner added that Coke had also agreed to withdraw the complaint it filed against her, and Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon for issuing and enforcing SO3.

But Dino Yulo, SAP spokesman, yesterday said there are already several meetings with various stakeholders from outside of Negros Occidental who are set to join the anti-HFCS campaign and lobby for the retention of SO3 that will regulate its entry.

“This will show the country and the national government that the sugar problem is not only in Negros but in 10 other regions and in more than 20 provinces,” Yulo said.

He added that the Senate hearing that was initially scheduled on April 10 was moved to April 18 to allow everyone to have a meaningful Lenten season. He said this will give time for SAP to prepare to dispute everything that the beverage industry and Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol has been saying.

The so-called “win-win” solution offered by DA on the HFCS issue has been rejected by SAP, claiming that “it continues to reek of preference for the beverage companies rather than for sugar farmers," Yulo added. (FREEMAN)