NEGROS Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said Wednesday, May 17, that Negrenses have to remain alert even after beverage giant Coca-Cola Femsa Philippines withdrew its petition for injunction on the sugar order regulating the importation of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
On Tuesday, Coca-Cola through lawyer Marc Cox announced the firm’s withdrawal of the case, during the inquiry of the House of Representatives committee of food and agriculture on the HFCS importation.
This was also confirmed by the Sugar Alliance of Philippines on Wednesday.
Coke is questioning the constitutionality of the sugar order issued by the Sugar Regulatory Administration on February 24.
While he welcomed the development, Lacson said, “we should remain vigilant and hopefully at the end of the day, it will be a favorable for the whole sugar industry.”
“We should trust each other. If they publicly said that, a big company like that cannot just vacillate. They will be able to honor it. Because of the withdrawal of Coke, at least we have that sugar order as safe guard for the entry of HFCS,” Lacson added.
The decision of Coke not to pursue the case came five days after the Sugar Anti-Smuggling Organization filed an outright smuggling complaint against the company before the Bureau of Customs when it allegedly imported HFCS after the March 10 effectivity of the sugar order without SRA clearance.
In Negros Occidental, the sale of Coca-Cola products has been banned in several local government units in support to the sugar industry call for boycott
The Municipal Council of Binalbagan unanimously passed a resolution supporting the campaign to boycott Coke during its session on May 2.
The town of Binalbagan banned the sale of Coke products during the Balbagan Festival on May 8 to 15.
Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo also issued Executive Order No. 20 that prohibits the promotion, advertisement and sale of Coke products in specific areas and events in the southern Negros city.
Other LGUs that boycotted Coke were Hinigaran town, during its annual fiesta from April 20 to 30; La Carlota City, during its Pasalamat Festival from April 24 to 30; and Isabela town, during its town fiesta on April 19 to 22.
The ARBs Sugar Farmers Federation-Kilusang Pagbabago-Negros Island Substate also announced that Barangay Talotog in Murcia, Negros Occidental has banned and prohibited the sale of all products made by Coca-Cola in the barangay.
Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. was the first to declare the ban of Coke products in this year’s Panaad sa Negros Festival from April 22 to 30 in solidarity with the sugar industry in its campaign against the unregulated importation of HFCS.
At least 40 food establishments in Negros Occidental, particularly Bacolod City, have also stopped serving Coke products to their customers.