By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY – Negros Occidental 5th District Representative Emilio Bernardino Yulo has called for an investigation into what he described as an artificial decline in sugar prices.
Yulo raised the issue during a privilege speech in the House of Representatives on Monday.
Delivering his first privilege speech since assuming office two years ago, Yulo said he spoke “not for myself but for the whole sugar industry and its stakeholders, the majority of whom are small, marginalized sugar farmers and agrarian reform beneficiaries.”
He emphasized that these farmers are often “neglected, overlooked, and sadly voiceless.”
Yulo dispelled the stereotype of sugar barons owning vast tracts of land, asserting that those days are over.
“Today, 90 percent of our sugar farmers are small, marginalized planters or agrarian reform beneficiaries farming one to two hectares of land,” he said.
He noted that these small farmers constitute the new majority and face challenges threatening their survival.
Yulo, himself a sugar planter and a former board member of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), said farmers entered the new milling season with optimism after last year’s low prices.
At the start of the season, mill gate prices averaged PHP 2,850 per 50-kilogram bag, providing small farmers a fair return. However, he noted prices began to decline in October, falling to around PHP 2,750. By early November, the price had dropped further to an average of PHP 2,600—a PHP 250 reduction in just two months.
“Two weeks ago, prices dropped to an average of PHP 2,500 per bag. Last Thursday, it fell further to PHP 2,470—a total decline of almost PHP 400,” he lamented.
He said these prices are now below the cost of production, making the situation “alarming.”
“To some, this PHP 400 disparity may seem trivial, but for our marginalized brothers and sisters in the sugar industry, this represents their hope and survival,” he said.
“This amount means food on the table, education for their children, and keeping their farms afloat.”
Yulo also questioned the law of supply and demand, noting that despite relatively low supply and increased demand during the Christmas season, prices continue to drop.
“Christmas is supposed to be sweet, but for thousands of sugar farmers, their Christmas this year will be bitter,” he said.
Yulo contended that this “aberration” in sugar prices is the result of artificial manipulation.
He cited the challenges farmers faced earlier this year, including a prolonged dry season from December to May that required additional spending on replanting and fertilization. Subsequent La Niña rains caused further damage, compounding costs.
“These small farmers have survived one crisis after another, but the continuous drop in sugar prices has worsened their situation,” he said.
Yulo also criticized the SRA, stating that the agency had “fallen short” of its mandate to ensure fair prices for both farmers and consumers.
“The sugar industry is not just about crops; it’s about families, communities, and their future,” he said.
“When prices fall below production costs, it’s not just the sugar farmers who suffer but also their dependents, farm laborers, and local economies that rely on their success.”
Yulo called for immediate action to stabilize sugar prices and safeguard the livelihoods of small sugarcane farmers.
“Let us investigate the factors behind this price instability and hold accountable those who exploit the situation for unimaginable profit,” he said.
He added, “The choice is clear: profit for an unscrupulous few versus the lives of farmers, their families, and their communities.”
Meanwhile, SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said he is willing to attend any investigation if requested.
