RESPONDING to the need to look for solutions rather than just merely opposing the proposed sugar import liberalization, industry stakeholders are now gearing up for their counterproposal.

Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Board Member Emilio Yulo III, representing the producers, said as they continue to oppose, they also have to put something on the table from the part of the industry.

Yulo said the study tour in Thailand and sugar summit in January and February, respectively, are just among the things that the industry needs to do in the next two to three months.

“In that counterproposal, we will make sure that the stakeholders, especially the small farmers, are not on the disadvantaged,” he said, adding that “our end game is to become sugar sufficient.”

For Tatak Kalamay, a national movement composed of multi-sectoral groups supporting the sugar industry, its convenor Raymond Montinola said they already discussed scenarios and policies on how to counteract the liberalization being proposed by the economic managers.

“We will not sit on the victory against liberalization, but we have to provide solutions,” he said, adding that that’s a proactive scenario and forward looking being made by Tatak Kalamay.

Montinola, also the national spokesperson of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations Inc. (Confed), said there’s a pressing need to increase the country’s sugar productivity.

“We believe that the main problem is productivity, if we can address productivity then we can also address liberalization,” he stressed.

As part of the measures, Tatak Kalamay eyes putting an allocation for industry users. They continue to discuss more possible solutions, it added.

Both Yulo and Montinola expressed apprehension that, since the government is price sensitive, “there’s a need to be vigilant, we need to take a look at ensuring that prices remain advantageous to both the producers at the same affordable to the consumers.”

They agreed that “government wants reform so we should provide,” adding that if the prices are not controlled, the government might pursue the liberalization plan.”