NEGROS Occidental Third District Representative Jose Francisco "Kiko" Benitez will hold a meeting Thursday, February 4, 2021, with the sugar industry stakeholders relative to the proposed amendments on the Sugar Industry Development Act (Sida).

The meeting will be held at Nature's Village Restaurant in Talisay City.

Benitez, brother of former Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez who is the principal author of Sida, is the chair of the House Committee on Agriculture Technical Working Group.

Representative Manuel Sagarbarria (Negros Oriental, 2nd District) has filed a bill seeking amendments to Sida to protect the domestic sugar market from the saturation of imported sugar to stabilize prices and foster competition among local sugar producers.

Sagarbarria, in House Bill 2971, seeks to amend Section 11 of Republic Act 10659 to ensure a proportionate allocation of the Sida funds based on productivity and the strengthening of the Sugar Regulatory Administration’s supervisory powers on the importation of sugar.

Meanwhile, Congress has approved the In-City Housing Bill sponsored by Benitez.

The in-city housing bill, passed by the House of Representatives on second reading on Monday, is a concrete step towards fulfilling our People's right to the city, Benitez said.

This bill will ensure that informal settler families affected by infrastructure projects or disasters are provided with adequate housing within their city of residence or in adjacent LGU and that they are given a voice in the resettlement process, Benitez added.