Sugar planters yesterday said they are joining Sugar Watch that is taking its boycott against Coca Cola products nationwide, if the firm refuses to heed their call to stop importing sugar premixes and high fructose corn syrup, and instead use domestically produced sugar.

About 4,000 sugar farm workers, agrarian reform beneficiaries and planters gathered in front of the Coca Cola plant in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, yesterday morning and close to 1,000 gathered at the Bacolod public plaza in the afternoon to denounce Coca Cola’s importations and   to kick off a boycott of its products.

The picket in front of the Coca Cola plant in Bacolod City was cut short by heavy rain in the morning, and rain also poured as the protestors were about to start their march to the public plaza.

Contrary to the allegations raised against Coca-Cola, it continues to source its sugar requirements locally, a statement sent by Cat Avelino, the firm’s corporate communications director, said last night.

The firm was reacting to a call by sugar groups in Negros Occidental for a boycott of Coca Cola products for its importation of premixes and high fructose corn syrup, instead of buying locally produced sugar.

“We respect the sentiments of the groups calling for a boycott of our products.  However we believe that this is counter-productive to their cause, and will adversely affect not only the lives of thousands of people that depend on our business in Negros, including small sari-sari store owners, but the farmers they are trying to protect as well,” the statement said.

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said President Benigno Aquino's rating is dropping because of lack of credit given to him for the massive assistance his administration is giving the poor.

The governor yesterday presided over the distribution of P39.3 million from the Department of Social Welfare and Development in cash assistance to small scale farmers and fisherfolk, for supplementary feeding, and the social pensions of senior citizens.

Of the total amount P32,667,998 will go to 12,746 farmers and fisherfolk, P2,116,500 as social pension to 4,233 to senior citizens, and P4,608,000 to supplementary feeding in Negros Occidental.