A “KARGA-TAPAS” manifesto opposing the proposed liberalization of sugar importation will be signed by three labor groups in the country on Monday, February 4.
The General Alliance of Workers Associations (Gawa), which earlier condemned such plan of the government, will be joined by National Congress and Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines, and Philippine Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Workers Union-Trade Union of Congress of the Philippines in a forum in Bacolod City.
Wennie Sancho, secretary-general of Gawa, said on Sunday, February 3, members of the three labor groups will air their sentiments against the pronouncement of Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno to “relax” the rules or deregulate the importation of sugar in the country.
Sancho said the groups are also issuing a joint statement supporting the comment of Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) chief Hermenegildo Serafica that it was just a “press release” or personal opinion of Diokno.
They are also backing the statement of Senate committee on agriculture and food chairman Cynthia Villar that there should be an explanation on the high prices of sugar in the market and traders should not be allowed to control it.
“But then, we should not lower our guard because we are aware that there are forces who are out to sabotage the sugar industry for reasons of personal profit,” he said, adding that labor groups also support a resolution reiterating the mandate of the SRA under Executive Order No. 18.
“Karga-Tapas” is a coined term referring to sugarcane farmworker whose job is to cut and haul the cane.
The “Karga-Tapas” manifesto would mainly stress the expression of sugar workers against the proposed liberalization of sugar importation.
It also points out that “Karga-Tapas” people are seemingly not well-informed regarding its implications to the sugar industry.
“So there has to be massive information dissemination for us to know the scope of the ill effects of sugar import liberalization as well as the preventive measures to be done by workers organizations,” Sancho said.
Copies of the manifesto will be furnished to Serafica and two Sugar Board Members representing the planters and millers, also for them to present during the Sugar Summit in Manila on February 11.
On February 7, Save the Sugar Industry Movement and Solidarity of Workers in the Sugar Industry will also sign a statement of solidarity.
On that day, the groups might hold a ceremonial tearing of paper printed with “no to liberalization” text.
It can be recalled that in a separate manifesto, Gawa slammed the liberalization scheme for sugar by the government as it is detrimental to the interest of the workers, particularly in the sugar industry.
The group is apprehensive of the irreparable damage that could be brought by such measure, it added.