San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada yesterday urged the government to implement a long-term livelihood program for local sugarcane farmers in view of the expected stiff competition that will be posed by foreign sugar suppliers such as Thailand starting 2015.

Ejercito Estrada’s call came amid the expected influx of imported sugar in the local market as when tariffs are lifted as a result of the country's free trade agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Under the Asean Free Trade Area-Common Effective Preferential Tariff, the duty for imported sugar will be lowered to 5 percent in 2015 from the current 28 percent.

Ejercito Estrada warned that without a viable support program in place by the time the sugar tariff is lowered in 2015, some 500,000 sugarcane farmers stand to lose their livelihood.

He said the government should come up with alternative livelihood projects for sugarcane farmers.

The solon noted that producing handicrafts such as rattan chairs may be a viable alternative for sugarcane farmers as these appeal to the export market.

Ejercito Estrada said he earlier asked theSugar Regulatory Administration to improve the economic condition of thousands of sugarcane farmers, who are mostly from Negros -- the home province of his mother, San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez.

Among ASEAN member-countries, Thailand is considered as one of the major suppliers of sugar in the region. The Thais produce sugar more efficiently, allowing farmers to sell their sugar at a lower cost.*

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