Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has called for urgent structural, legislative, and budgetary reforms to prevent the collapse of the multi-billion-peso sugar industry. He cited weak government support, rising production costs, and falling farmgate prices.
Pangilinan, chairperson of the Senate committee on agriculture, held a public consultation with sugar planters in Talisay City, Negros Occidental to identify key problems and craft solutions to stabilize prices and incomes, fix long-standing bottlenecks, and implement a sugar industry roadmap backed by strong budget and trade policies.
“This public consultation matters because real reform cannot be designed from Congress alone. I personally commit to translating your inputs into legislative and budgetary action,” he said.
The senator urged stakeholders to submit proposals on price floors, Sugarcane Industry Development Act priorities, and reforms at the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).
As sponsor of the Department of Agriculture budget, Pangilinan earlier pushed for a P2-billion allocation for the SRA, but the Department of Budget and Management approved only P1.02 billion for 2026 due to concerns on fund utilization.
SRA data show operating raw sugar mills fell from 28 in 2018 to 25 in 2025, while refineries dropped from 13 to 10. Farmgate prices also slid to P2,150–P2,300 per bag, below the P2,500 production cost.
“We are here with one purpose: to listen, to be candid about the crisis we face, and to agree on practical and sustainable solutions that protect farmers, workers, communities, and the industry,” said Pangilinan.IMT
