Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. clarified that sugar importation is not administration policy but a temporary tool to stabilize prices and supply, as the government prioritizes technology and innovation to build a stronger, self-reliant domestic sugar industry.
Speaking at the 72nd Annual National Convention of the Philippine Sugar Technologists Association (PhilSuTech), Tiu Laurel said imports will only be used when supply gaps emerge, to curb sharp price swings and safeguard consumers without harming local producers. He cited the existing allocation system — the first of its kind in the industry — where import permits are tied to local sugar purchases, a measure designed for full transparency and free from official discretion.
“Sugar importation is not the policy of this administration. It is a tool for price and market stabilization to be used when necessary and under clearly defined circumstances,” Tiu Laurel stated. He added that future import rules will be refined through industry consultation, with volumes set “just enough for what the country needs — not more, not less.”
The Agriculture chief emphasized the government’s core goal: a more productive, competitive, and self-sufficient sugar sector. He acknowledged critical hurdles facing the industry, including the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI), high production and input costs, labor shortages, limited access to technology and financing, and climate change.
In response to the RSSI threat, Tiu Laurel announced the formation of a national task force led by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), backed by agencies and industry stakeholders — an agreement reached following First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos’ recent visit to Negros. The body will coordinate control efforts and ensure farmers receive clear guidance on government programs and best practices. A P300-million budget has been allocated for 2027 to establish municipal-level laboratories and incubation centers producing biological agents against RSSI.
Tiu Laurel urged stakeholders to frame challenges as opportunities — turning labor shortages into mechanization, climate risks into climate-smart farming, and low productivity into greater innovation adoption. “Our farmers do not need technology for technology’s sake. They need technology that works,” he said, stressing that solutions must boost yields, cut costs, reduce labor burden, and raise incomes.
“Good things take time, but we also know that nothing gets sweetened without hard work,” Tiu Laurel remarked, calling for an industry that anticipates challenges, adapts quickly, and grows stronger.
