THIRD District of Bukidnon Rep. Audrey Kay T. Zubiri has warned that higher taxes on sugar and sweeteners will have far-reaching consequences to ordinary Filipinos, specifically for farmers, producers, manufacturers, and daily consumers, urging Congress to pursue a tax policy that advances public health without compromising the country’s domestic sugar industry.
Speaking during a joint hearing of the House Committees on Ways and Means and Health on September 14, Zubiri said lawmakers should assess the potential impact of sugar-related tax increases across the entire value chain—from consumers, sugarcane farmers and millers to processors, and manufacturers.
“We need to balance efforts to encourage healthier consumption with policies that protect our people, their livelihoods, support local industries, and sustain domestic sugar production,” Zubiri said.
She said the scale of the domestic sugar industry underscores the need for a careful and comprehensive approach to proposed changes in sugar-related taxes.
Data from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) showed that, as of April 19, 2026, sugarcane milled had reached 20.21 million metric tons, while raw sugar production stood at about 1.6 million metric tons. Refined sugar production was recorded at 504,225 metric tons during the same period.
Zubiri said these figures demonstrate that sugar is not merely an ingredient in consumer products but a major agricultural and industrial commodity that sustains livelihoods across the country. She said any changes in the tax treatment of sugar and other sweeteners must therefore take into account differences in their sources, production processes, economic contributions, and effects on consumers.
Zubiri further raised concerns over the current tax structure placing locally produced sugar and artificial sweeteners under a similar tax category, arguing that the two products differ significantly in their characteristics and uses.
“Artificial sweeteners, such as those used in products like Equal, are not “equal” to natural or caloric sweeteners. They can be 200 to 700 times sweeter than sugar. If we increase the excise tax on these products and still put them in the same tax bracket, its very likely that manufacturers will reformulate their products using imported artificial sweeteners to maximize their profits. Pano naman yung mga magsasaka natin?,” she added.
Zubiri said the proposed tax increases should likewise be examined for their potential impact on the broader sugar value chain, especially if they will favor imported products over local produced sugar in the long run.
“Looking at the possible impact of this measure on a macroscale, we could be affecting a major industry that supports more than five million farmers, while potentially benefiting a massive foreign company that imports sugar,” she said.
The Bukidnon lawmaker also cautioned that higher taxes could increase production costs for businesses that use sugar and other sweeteners as inputs, with additional costs potentially being passed on to consumers through higher prices.
She said Congress can pursue public-health objectives without disproportionately shifting the burden to the agricultural sector and Filipino families.
“I am in favor of healthier options, health is our priority. There’s no doubt about it. However, we can’t kill an industry in our quest to making our country healthier,” Zubiri said.
Several House bills seek to increase the existing P6-per-liter tax on caloric and non-caloric sweetened beverages to P20 per liter. The proposed measures also seek to increase the tax on high-fructose corn syrup to P40 per liter.
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