Hotel, restaurant group urged to boycott Coke

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

THE Confederation of Sugar Producers Association (Confed)-Negros Panay Chapter is urging the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Negros Occidental (HRANO) to join the boycott against Coca Cola products for continuing to import premix sugar and high fructose corn syrup.

In a letter addressed to HRANO president Pat Cahili, Confed chairman Raymund Montinola stated, “Your support is very critical, if we are to succeed in our efforts to stop the decline of the sugar industry and bring it back on the road to recovery.”

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“The boycott will be strengthened for sure, if members of the HRANO commit themselves to stop patronizing Coca Cola products, or at least give options to customers for other brands should there be existing commitments for exclusive marketing, while it continues to import premix and HFCS,” he added.
 
“We urge you to join us in this boycott move,” Montinola appealed.
 
He pointed out that Coca Cola’s importation of premix sugar replaced its purchase of Philippine sugar in the domestic market.
 
“Instead of locally-produced sugar which is readily available in the domestic market, imported premix and high fructose is now being used by Coca Cola in its beverage products,” Montinola said.
 
He claimed that the said importation is a clear message that Coca Cola has rejected local sugar in favor of imported sugar and sugar substitutes.
 
“It is for this reason that Confed joined the calls for a boycott of Coca Cola products, as part of concerted actions to be undertaken while the importation of premix and HFCS continues,” he pointed out.
 
“We want to put across the message that a rejection of Philippine sugar should be met with a similar response against those who pursue and maintain only one-sided dealings.”
 
He stressed that the survival of the local sugar industry is undeniably interlinked with the interests of the hotel and restaurant owners whose business is most likely to be adversely affected by any deterioration in the economic condition of this predominantly sugar-producing province.
 
“Certain personal relationships and commitments may be compromised along the way but rest assured that we shall find relief in the thought that we stood and fought for what is right and what is truly good for this province and our country,” Montinola concluded.