The postponement of the implementation of the 0 to 5 percent tariff on sugar and other agricultural products by 2015 is being sought by Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño.

At the social enterprise forum held at Nature's Village Resort in Talisay City yesterday, Casiño said extending the deadline or modifying compliance with the implementation must be done to protect the industry.

But in the international agreements, everything can be negotiated and this free trade was even postponed in the past, he said.

He said negotiations are possible but it will depend on the conditions that will develop before the 2015, adding that the zero tariffs on sugar and other agricultural products will affect the Philippine economy in general.

If delay is impossible, government has to consider forms of subsidies for the sugar industry to minimize the catastrophic impact while farmers and businessmen are adjusting to the conditions, he said.

Casiño also urged sugar farmers to start developing alternative products and technologies to the existing production system and to make a part of the social enterprise to explore other markets using the same raw materials.

He also cited Negros Occidental as the model of various social enterprises in the Philippines because of its battle in the sugar crises in the 80s that gave rise to the Association of Negros Producers, the making alternative livelihood and products other than producing sugar.

Lu Gargarita, executive director of Philippine Social Enterprise Network, one of the speakers at the forum said, they are lobbying for the passage of the bill because it is for the marginalized community and it is one of the solutions for poverty reduction.

She added that through social enterprise, small producers and farmers are included in the supply and value chain of the companies and link their produce to the mainstream market. *LTG

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