BACOLOD CITY — The one-page open letter yesterday of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters signed by its president Enrique “Nene” Rojas should open the eyes of our lawmakers, specifically the Representatives in Congress of sugarcane-producing areas.

And the sugarcane planters, too, as well as all those connected either directly or indirectly with the sugar industry.

The issue is sugar smuggling. This apprehended smuggled sugar is classified by the Sugar Regulatory Administration as “D” or sugar for the world market.

Often, when this smuggled sugar is bidded to buyers, it is the “smugglers themselves in connivance with unscrupulous sugar traders and exporters, who buy it from the Bureau of Customs.”

Then instead of selling it to the world marker for which it was intended, it surreptitiously finds its way into the domestic market resulting in the depressed domestic prices. “B” is 4 times the price of “D” sugar.

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Rojas’ letter said that, despite the efforts of the Sugar Regulatory Administration and the Sugar Alliance to achieve a fair price for both the consumers and the producers, domestic prices continue to be unstable, indicating sugar smuggled continues to influence the domestic market.

Sugar smuggling continues to be a lucrative business for both the unscrupulous businessmen and the people at Customs as there is big money there.

There are many loopholes with those sticky-fingered officials making plenty of money.

The government here loses revenue, in addition to the destruction of an industry. This endangers the livelihood of some five million people dependent on the industry.

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Rojas was asking the Congressmen to plug these loopholes by having all the confiscated sugar from smuggling dumped into the sea. We support this move. And I hope all those in the industry, including the members of the Sugar Alliance help petition the government to enact a law stating that smuggled sugar must be destroyed or dumped into the sea.

Sugar smuggling in this country has become a lucrative business. Everybody profits here except the government that cannot collect taxes, and the sugar industry itself.

This is what will pull the industry down.

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Just a little flashback. In the late 20s, specifically in 1929 until the early 30s that affected us also, there was a big economic crisis in the U.S. There was an overproduction of wheat and the depressed prices led to losses by the farmers.

What to do with the excess? They also must not sell at a loss or it would be bad for the economy.

So government bought the excess wheat and with the ceremonies covered by media, dumped the wheat in the Atlantic.

The perception and impression was that there was no more excess wheat and prices stabilized.

The President then was Herbert J. Hoover and when Franklin Delano Roosevelt took over, the first thing he did was to have programs intended to have people employed. He organized the Tennessee Valley Authority in his “New Deal.”

Roosevelt was elected in 1932, but he held the position for four consecutive terms until he died in 1945 while in office.

Do you think they dumped all the wheat? No! It was only symbolic. I think this is the idea that Nene Rojas was thinking about.

But, first, where are the other sugar leaders?

We need a strong leader in the industry. I hope Nene Rojas wields that power with strength and firmness.

Sugar Alliance is all right as a committee. But never has there been a statue or monument erected in honor of a committee.

I am saying this, not because Rojas is a close friend. For I believe if anyone is willing to lead and has the capacity to lead, let him and we all will follow.

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This is like the sugar coops, being battered also by the BIR. While cooperatives are exempted, BIR is going after them. Meanwhile, there are 33,000 planters reported as not paying their taxes.

I got a call yesterday from some media people and I told them to interview BIR and let us hear from them.

One planter friend called up but asked not to be identified because of his businesses. He told me he is one of the 2,000 planters paying taxes. “But, it’s unfair that while I pay the others do not.”

But still the biggest unfairness is, while the coops are exempted, BIR is giving it its focus while the 33,000 taxpayers continue to ignore their tax obligations.

I hope the sugar cooperatives hold an election and have an over all leader to take up the cudgel.

One Response to “Challenge to our lawmakers”

• 1
  Dr. Antonio Gestosani
  September 3rd, 2008 19:22

  Politics is a big business in the Philippines, and lucrative venture to say the least. My question is: why can’t you prosecute these crook politicians? Obviously your check and balance system does not work at all. This is why politicians continue to fleece the government and get-by with it. Here in my home State of Ohio, we have Congressman who is in jail now from corruption, and Atty. General who resigned due to public pressure from misdemeanor practice. Again, I said before, listen to the wisdom of the OFW that gives you constructive criticism and heed their call for change. You just need leaders who have character and the will to carry this change; you need the full support of the entire Filipino people to elect them in that position on the basis of integrity and honesty and not selling your votes to the highest bidder. GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES.

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