August 4, 2014
By Teresa Ellera
SunStar Bacolod
SENATOR Francis Escudero has assured industry stakeholders of the passage of the Sugarcane Bill in the Senate within the year.
Escudero made the assurance as the Senate committee on agriculture continues to conduct hearings on the proposed measure.
The senator said in a radio interview that the passage of the bill would help the sugar industry become competitive so that it will survive when the Asean Free Trade Agreement (Afta) will be implemented in January next year.
He said Afta poses a great challenge to the country especially to the sugar industry, because of fears that it cannot compete with other countries like Thailand whose industries like sugar enjoys support and subsidy from their respective government.
Our products need to have quality in order to compete, he said.
Last week, Negros Occidental Third District Rep. Alfredo Benitez said he sees the passage of the Sugarcane Bill before the year ends. Read the related story here.
Stakeholders of the sugar industry are hopeful of the passage of the bill before year 2015 for the survival of the sugar industry during the implementation of the Afta next year that would bring down the tariffs on imported sugar from five percent to zero tariff.
The Sugarcane Bill contains measures which include government assistance to the sugar industry like the setting up of the sugar industry fund.