BACOLOD City Representative Greg Gasataya said Monday he is optimistic that his colleagues will take appropriate action on the importation of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) being opposed by stakeholders of the sugar industry.
Gasataya, who delivered a privilege speech about HFCS and its effects on the sugar industry at the House of Representatives Monday afternoon, said they already filed the resolution urging the appropriate House committee to immediately conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on the impacts of the importation, use, and sale of HFCS on the sustainability of the sugar industry.
It was signed by 15 congressmen.
Aside from Gasataya, others from Negros Occidental who signed the resolution were Representatives Melecio Yap Jr. of the First District; Leo Rafael Cueva, Second District; Alfredo Benitez, Third District; Juliet Ferrer, Fourth District; Alejandro Mirasol, Fifth District; and Mercedes Alvarez, Sixth District while those from Negros Oriental were Jocelyn Limkaichong, First District; Manuel Sagarbarria, Second District; and Arnulfo Teves Jr., Third District.
Others were Representatives Emmanuel Billones, Capiz - First District; Manuel Zubiri, Bukidnon - Third District; Joseph Stephen Paduano, Abang Lingkod partylist; Noel Villanueva, Tarlac - Third District; and Arcadio Gorriceta, Iloilo - Second District.
Gasataya said the House committee on rules will determine which committee will handle the inquiry and when it will start.
The Bacolod solon said he is optimistic that he will get the support of his fellow congressmen, adding that he is hoping the House will take action on the problem.
Adverse effects
Gasataya, during his speech, said they take this matter “very seriously” as it has adverse effects to the country’s sugarcane industry, which is a huge industry contributing no less than P87 billion to the economy annually.
“The entry of HFCS which is almost 50 percent cheaper than our locally-produced sugar is a big problem not just to the sugar planters but more so to our sugar workers,” he said.
He said that sugar is the lifeblood of Negros Island Region, adding that the importation of HFCS will cause a very unimaginable proportion of damage to all sugar stakeholders. For the businessmen, this is a loss of income.
“There are unprecedented adverse possibilities emerging from this importation. Aside from the inevitable reduction of market outlets for locally produced sugar, living conditions will suffer. If this continues, poverty and hunger will result to turmoil causing chaos in the erstwhile peaceful island we are living in,” Gasataya said.
He added: “If we let the sugar industry die in the hands of the unregulated industry of HFCS, how will our farmers and sugar workers be able to find their living? We cannot afford to create monsters out of our hungry farmers and workers who would possibly settle to engage in illegal activities just to earn money to have food on their tables and be able to send their children to school.”