Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. recognized the Philippine Sugar Technologists Association (PhilSuTech) as a vital partner in driving science-backed growth, higher incomes, and resilience for the country’s sugarcane industry.
In a statement Wednesday, Tiu Laurel noted the group’s expertise will be critical as the sector faces rising production costs, labor shortages, limited technology and financing access, climate change, and the spread of the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI).
“PhilSuTech has always been an important partner of our sugar industry, bringing science, technology, and expertise closer to the people who need them most,” he said. He urged the sector to move beyond crisis response and build an industry that anticipates challenges, adapts quickly, and grows more productive and competitive.
Supporting these goals, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is rolling out three new high-yielding sugarcane varieties to boost farmer output and earnings. The agency is also distributing free beneficial microorganism organic fertilizer to cut production costs. To fight RSSI, SRA is providing biocontrol fungi and training farmers on pest management and improved farm practices.
Tiu Laurel directed all DA laboratories to back these efforts, with plans to set up more facilities at municipal, mill, and farmer-group levels to ensure steady access to the biocontrol solution. He called on stakeholders to turn challenges into opportunities—pointing to mechanization for labor shortages, climate-smart farming for weather risks, and technology for better yields.
“The technology we develop must work for the farmer… If it cannot help them produce more, reduce costs, save labor, manage risks, or earn better, then we have to ask ourselves, what good is it?” he emphasized. He added innovation must move beyond laboratories and universities to reach sugarcane fields and deliver real, usable results. A stable, predictable business environment is also needed so farmers can invest with confidence that higher production will translate into viable markets.
On imports, Tiu Laurel reiterated they are not a policy goal but a temporary tool to stabilize supply, protect consumers, and avoid harming domestic producers. As of Tuesday, August 18, retail sugar prices in Metro Manila stood at P70–P95 per kilogram for refined, P62–P85 for washed, and P60–P85 for brown sugar. Raw sugar’s composite price reached P2,205 per 50-kilogram bag as of July 12, the end of the latest milling season.
