BUKIDNON 3rd District Representative Audrey Kay T. Zubiri called for the immediate regulation of artificial sweeteners during a legislative inquiry by the House Committee on Agriculture and Food into the continued decline of sugar millgate prices including in Bukidnon.
During the hearing, Zubiri flagged the unregulated and increased importation of artificial sweeteners over the past few years with imports reaching as high as 800,000 to 1,000,000 metrics tons of its sugar equivalent.
“I am in support of the manifesto issued by major sugar federations from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, as well as millers, refiners, and allied industry partners to regulate artificial sweeteners. Papatayin tayo literally and figuratively ng mga artificial sweeteners na ito. Biruin mo, the imported artificial sweeteners of around 800,000 metric tons are taking almost half of the market share that could have benefitted the local sugar industry. Ultimately, our farmers and the sugar industry will suffer at literal na mamatay ang industriya ng asukal if we don’t take immediate actions.”
The Bukidnon lawmaker also raised concerns over the insufficient support in farm mechanization and efforts to help farmers refine sugar, citing the continued plans for importation of refined sugar despite the excess supply of raw sugar in the country.
“The SRA told us during the inquiry that we have in fact increased our production by about 160,000 metric tons last crop year, 130,000 metric tons ay galing sa Bukidnon. Pero we still experienced price decline during the last season kasi yung raw sugar produced was not processed and turned into refined sugar. So, we had an excess supply of raw sugar. If we do not address the lack of capacity by our farmers to refine the raw sugar that they harvest, we will be stuck in an endless cycle of price fluctuations, short-term price increases and threats from the importation of refined sugar in the future.”
Zubiri further pushed for a more equitable and long-term solution to solve the recurring concerns on the over importation of sugar and excess supply of raw sugar in the country.
“The situation in Bukidnon clearly illustrates this crisis,” Zubiri said. “As of October 2025, the province produced 99,762 bags of raw sugar and 1,716,158 bags of refined sugar. Yet despite this output, Sugar Order No. 8, Series of 2024–2025 authorized the importation of 424,000 metric tons of refined sugar—an action that risks further depressing local prices at the expense of our farmers.”
She emphasized that sugar and the agriculture sectors are invaluable in the growth of rural economies and national development.
“For us, sugar is not just a condiment, it represents thousands of Filipino farmers, our constituents, who need our help to revive their industry. Naniniwala ako na ang puso ng ating bansa ay nasa agrikultura—making it clear that if we neglect our farmers, we neglect the future of our nation,” she added.
She reiterated her commitment to pursuing policy measures that ensure price stability, transparency in import decisions, and stronger protections for Filipino farmers.
Zubiri also added the need for an increase in funding and better implementation of the Sugar Industry Development Act 2015 to safeguard the welfare of farmers and uphold the long-term sustainability of the country’s sugar industry.
