Senator Francis Pangilinan presented a situationer on the country’s sugar industry to Executive Secretary Ralph Recto on Jan. 28, flagging urgent concerns affecting farmers, mill workers, and consumers, and proposing policy measures to stabilize the sector.
Pangilinan cited high production costs, falling farm incomes, supply volatility, and the impact of importation on local producers.
“Nararapat na magkaroon ang ating industriya ng asukal ng transparent at balanseng polisiya at estratehiya na naglalayong protektahan hindi lamang ang industriya, kundi ang mga manggagawa na araw-araw nagpapakahirap panatilihing itong buhay—ang ating mga magsasaka,” he said.
“We must ensure that solutions are fair, evidence-based, and responsive to the realities on the ground.”
Recto assured the senator that the sugar industry is a priority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and that the issues raised will be reviewed and elevated for policy action, emphasizing close coordination between the executive and legislative branches.
Pangilinan said he will continue pushing reforms to build a more resilient and sustainable sugar industry, noting that sugar mills have declined from 28 in 2018 to 25 in 2025, while farmgate prices fell to P2,150–P2,300 per bag against a production cost of about P2,500.
