The proposed Sugarcane Act, that’s geared towards revitalizing and strengthening the sugar industry is now moving in the House of Representatives, with a committee hearing set on June 6, its proponent, Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said yesterday.
Benitez said the Agriculture committee has invited representatives of various sectors of the sugar industry, including the Sugar Regulatory Administration, the departments of Trade and Industry and Agriculture, to discuss the proposed bill.
House Bill 6113, also known as the Sugarcane Industry Development Act of 2012 seeks a diversification, development and financing program to counter the lifting of tariffs on imported sugar by 2015.
Benitez said the bill aims to raise the value of sugarcane by helping mills produce not only sugar, but fuel, power, alcohol and other by-products, to enable the industry to survive trade liberalization beyond 2015.
Representatives of sugar federations will also meet in Talisay City tomorrow, on the need to introduce amendments to the proposed Sugarcane Act bill, Benitez, also said.
Under the ASEAN Free Trade Area agreement tariff on imported sugar entering the country dropped from 38 percent last year to 28 percent this year. It will further drop to 18 percent in 2013, 10 percent in 2014 and 5 percent in 2015.
The proposed bill, which has been in the works for more than a year, hopefully, will not drag in committee hearings, Benitez said.
He added that Senators Francis Escudero and Jinggoy Estrada have signified their intention to jointly sponsor the proposed Sugarcane Act bill in the Senate, for the survival of the sugar industry after 2015.
Benitez said he is optimistic the proposed bill will be passed by Congress next year.
Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. called on legislators, especially those in sugar producing areas, to support the HB 6113, which he said will greatly help the sugar industry. *GPB
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