TATAK Kalamay, a movement composed of sugar industry stakeholders in the country, has issued a manifesto seeking for the intervention and support of the Senate amid pressing concerns hounding the industry.
The group, in the manifesto, said not too long ago, the sugar industry closed ranks and rose against industrial users whose large-scale importation of High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) sent domestic sugar prices plunging and threatened the very existence of an industry on which five million Filipinos depend.
Responding to the danger, the government, led by President Rodrigo Duterte and allies in the Senate and House of Representatives, institutionalized the regulation of HFCS imports through the sugar-sweetened beverage tax, it added.
Its spokesperson, Raymond Montinola, said in a statement that subsequent to, and likely as a result of such moves, leading beverage manufacturers offered to work with the sugar industry and committed to buying domestic sugar in support of the local farmers.
Montinola, also among the convenors, said worrisome is the fact that there are discussions relating to the possible widespread of industrial use of HFCS once again.
"Tatak Kalamay once again turns to our champions in the Senate and seeks your intervention for the protection of our agricultural economy and, in particular, the sugar industry," he added.
The Department of Finance was earlier reported to have formally proposed import liberalization for the sugar industry.
The scheme is modeled on the opening up of the rice market, signaling a showdown for another key commodity as economic managers sought to make prices more competitive.
As this developed, the group called on all stakeholders to once again close ranks in the best interests of the industry
"As always, Tatak Kalamay stands ready to oppose and stop this threat to an industry that remains the lifeblood of millions," it added.