By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY — Negros Occidental Fifth District Representative Emilio Bernardino Yulo lamented the low sugar mill gate prices, stating that Christmas will be more bitter than sweet, especially for sugar farmers and industry stakeholders.
“We are experiencing very low mill gate prices of sugar, which will make our Christmas not sweet but rather bitter,” Yulo said.
Yulo, who attended the recent Lights On ceremony in Moises Padilla town, said residents are also facing uncertainty over the possibility of another Kanlaon Volcano eruption.
He noted that these challenges weigh heavily on his constituents, many of whom cultivate one of the province’s largest sugarcane-growing areas.
A teacher in the district expressed concern, saying this year’s Christmas feels different due to the ongoing uncertainties surrounding the volcano and sugar prices.
Earlier, Yulo delivered a privilege speech in Congress, urging an investigation into the continued drop in sugar prices.
He explained that his speech was not for personal reasons but for the entire sugar industry and its stakeholders, most of whom are small, marginalized sugar farmers and agrarian reform beneficiaries.
“These farmers are often neglected, overlooked, and sadly voiceless,” Yulo said.
Dispelling the stereotype of wealthy sugar barons, Yulo emphasized that 90 percent of today’s sugar farmers are small-scale planters or agrarian reform beneficiaries cultivating one to two hectares of land.
He highlighted the struggles of these small farmers, who make up the majority but face challenges threatening their livelihoods.
At the start of the milling season, mill gate prices averaged PHP 2,850 per 50-kilogram bag, providing hope to small farmers. However, prices began to decline in October, dropping to PHP 2,750 and further plummeting to an average of PHP 2,600 by early November—a PHP 250 reduction in just two months.
Yulo called for immediate action to stabilize sugar prices and protect small farmers’ livelihoods.
“Let us investigate the factors behind this price instability and hold accountable those who exploit the situation for unimaginable profit,” he said.
“The choice is clear: profit for an unscrupulous few versus the lives of farmers, their families, and their communities,” he added.
Yulo told Daily Guardian on Thursday that his call for an investigation has been referred to the Committee on Rules.
“Our plan, along with Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Stephen Paduano, is to include sugar in the Joint Committee Hearing on Food Security,” Yulo said.
