Marañon opposes government’s move to import sugar
Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. opposed the planned sugar importation move by the national government in the midst of alleged sugar shortage in greater Metro Manila.
In a statement, Marañon, who is also the gubernatorial candidate of the United Negros Alliance said, government’s plan to import sugar at this time is “unfair to the sugar industry who is just slowly recovering from the thrashing it got a couple of years ago when sugar inputs and production costs were so high.”
Marañon cautioned the government in its hasty pronouncement to import agreeing with sentiments of some sugar industry leader that there is enough sugar supply for now and the mills are working overtime.
“I hope the government would think twice about its plan in the light of accusations that some agencies and sectors will just be taking advantage of this situation to make money,” he said, adding that it is likely that the market will stabilize in a couple of weeks and for government to have faith in the sugar industry.
Marañon also took this chance to reiterate his call for crop diversification in the agriculture sector which he stressed, holds potentials for higher growth particularly on high value crops with export potential and higher income growth such as tropical fruits and vegetables.
“We have been very successful so far in the agriculture sector and I firmly believe this can propel the economy of the province,” Marañon said, adding that while the sugar industry is enjoying the profitable market price now, “there is always that threat,” thus the need to diversify should be taken seriously by industry leaders.
Food security is part of Marañon’s strategic development plan for the province, dubbed, “Negros First,” which seeks to optimize the potentials of Negros Occidental as an agriculture province to ensure food sufficiency and agricultural productivity.
