Padilla urges SRA to prioritize welfare of sugar farmers
SUGAR farmers are the most affected.
These were the words of Senator Robinhood Padilla who expressed concern on the plight of many farmers who suffered many blows due to the sugar importation issues the country is facing.
Padilla’s reaction came after it was revealed that the ordinary sugar worker only earns P30000 per annum.
Padilla asked the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) during the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, Tuesday, August 23, 2022, for updates on how the agency handled the P712 million public funds allocated for the welfare and equipment of sugarcane farmers and those working in the industry.
“I would like to remind those who are leading the SRA that your mandate is to prioritize the welfare of our farmers,” Padilla said in Filipino.
Padilla said the Filipino farmers in the sugar industry is actually the one suffering most considering that they really need so much help from the government.
“Noong nakaraang dalawang taon may mga ulat ang Commission on Audit sa unliquidated amount at account receivables sa pagbili ng tractor- driven sugarcane harvester, cutter para sa sugarcane farmers. Maaring malaman kung ito ay natapos ang programang at gayundin ang mga kagamitan ba ay naipamahagi sa mga benepisyo,” Padilla asked SRA Administrator Herminigildo Serafica during the hearing.
SRA officials replied that they will submit to the committee an official report with the latest updates and breakdowns on how the funds were used and which projects were finished and are ongoing.
Meanwhile, Sen. Raffy Tulfo, during the hybrid inquiry of the Blue Ribbon Committee on the controversial Sugar Order (SO) No. 4 issued by the Sugar Regulatory Administration authorizing the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar, asked the panel to invite officials of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) to the next hearing.
While he acknowledged that the BOC’s fight against sugar smuggling is commendable, he noted that the recent seizure of thousands of sacks of imported sugar in various warehouses is still questionable.
Without exactly saying it directly, Senator Tulfo said he wants the BOC officials to clarify many things as he urged the committee to invite them in the next hearing.
“I would appreciate it really Mr. Chair if we could invite a member of the BOC, especially the commissioner. I would really like to talk to him,” Tulfo said.
