Planters, labor groups renew call for higher millgate sugar prices
BACOLOD CITY – Sugarcane growers and labor unions in Negros Occidental renewed their call for fairer farmgate sugar prices on Saturday, pointing out that recent price increases remain insufficient to cover high production costs and sustain small-scale planters.
Recent raw sugar bidding results showed gains across major mills in the province, with Hawaiian-Philippine Co. reaching P2,888 per 50-kilogram bag (Lkg), First Farmers Holding Corp. rising to P2,760/Lkg, and Universal Robina Corp. (URC) mills alongside Victorias Milling Co. (VMC) posting upticks to P2,660/Lkg.
Molasses prices also improved, offering slight relief to distressed farmers.
In a joint statement, the Sugar Council—composed of the Confederation of Sugar Producers’ Associations Inc. (CONFED), National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP), and Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers (PANAYFED)—along with labor groups National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP-TUCP) and Democratic Association of Labor Organizations (DALO), thanked Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Rep. Dino Yulo (Neg. Occ ., 5th District) for supporting their push for higher prices.
The group urged other local officials across sugar-producing provinces to join the initiative.
The joint council pointed out that current price levels still fall short of what is required to keep operations viable, especially for small planters and agrarian reform beneficiaries.
They noted that current returns are inadequate to cover heavy production costs, recover losses from the previous crop year, finance the upcoming cropping cycle, and meet the welfare needs of farmworkers.
“We therefore reiterate our call for fairer prices without affecting consumer prices for domestic raw and refined sugar,” the statement read.
The alliance urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to closely monitor market movements to establish a stable market climate and restore confidence in the sector.
“Lastly, we welcome every opportunity to dialogue with the government and our stakeholders in order to push forward a viable future for our producers. But as always, critical collaboration and a steadfast search for solutions will remain our guiding principle in fighting for our industry,” the groups added.
