VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon — A group of Bukidnon sugarcane planters has appealed for a careful reassessment of the Sugar Regulatory Administration’s (SRA) plan to import 424,000 metric tons of refined sugar, saying the country still has sufficient local supply

The Mindanao Sustainable Sugarcane Agricultural Development, Inc. (MINFED) — composed of planters and workers in Bukidnon — urged SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. to reconsider Sugar Order No. 8, Series of 2024–2025.

The order authorizes the importation of refined sugar from July 15 to November 30, 2025.

Former Bukidnon Rep. Manuel Antonio Zubiri, MINFED president, said the importation could hurt local producers already struggling with high production costs and low market prices.

“This move threatens the livelihood of our farmers and the viability of the local sugar industry,” Zubiri said.

According to MINFED, Bukidnon’s two major mills — BUSCO Sugar Milling Co. Inc. and Crystal Sugar Milling Corp. — still have adequate stocks as of October 7, with 99,726 50-kg bags of raw sugar, 1,716,158 50-kg bags of refined sugar, and 1,347,737.70 50-kg bags from other mill operations.

Zubiri added that these stocks could help supply areas like Negros Occidental, where shortfalls are anticipated, instead of importing new supply.

While Bukidnon was spared from the red-striped soft scale insect infestation that hit Negros, local farmers said prolonged rains have lowered sugar recovery rates and yields. Rising fertilizer and fuel costs have also reduced their income.

Bukidnon’s sugar mills are set to begin operations on November 24, 2025. Mindanao currently has around 79,000 hectares of sugarcane plantations, 59,000 hectares of which are located in Bukidnon.

In a recent joint statement, Tiu-Laurel, Azcona, and SRA Board Member and Farmers’ Representative Dave Sanson said no sugar importation will be implemented until the end of the 2025–2026 milling season, expected between May and June 2026.

They also clarified that any future importation will be classified strictly as reserve sugar and will not enter the domestic market. A two-month buffer stock of refined sugar will also be maintained to stabilize prices and ensure supply.

(Mel N. Velez/Inquirer)