MANILA: Major stakeholders in the sugar industry yesterday expressed support to the campaign of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) against smugglers.
Seven major groups, representing more than five million sugar farmers from 21 provinces in the country, said in a manifesto that they will continue to give their “unwavering support” for Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon and his reforms at the bureau.
The key players in the sugar industry signed a Manifesto of Support and a Certificate of Appreciation for Faeldon’s full support for the industry and his efforts to curb sugar smuggling.
The manifesto and certificate were signed by Manuel R. Lamata, president of the United Sugar Producers’ Federation of the Philippines, Inc.; Enrique D. Rojas, president of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters, Inc.; Francis R. de la Rama, president of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Association, Inc.; Danilo A. Abelita, president of the Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers, Inc.; Francisco D. Varua, executive director of the Philippine Sugar Millers Association, Inc., Bernardo C. Trebol, trustee of the Philippine Association of Sugar Refiners, Inc.; and Pablo Lorenzo III, president of Sugar Master Plan Foundation, Inc. It was presented to Faeldon during the courtesy call of Lamata and Edgardo Lomanog, chief of the anti-sugar smuggling organization, at the BOC yesterday.
“For us in the sugar industry, Commissioner Faeldon has been true to his word,” the manifesto stated.
The manifesto noted that the sugar industry commends Faeldon’s effort in preventing the entry of smuggled sugar into the country and apprehending the violators. The manifesto also cited the “audacity and courage” of Faeldon, a newcomer in the bureaucracy, in going after smugglers upon his assumption as Customs chief.
The bureau head recently required importers of high fructose corn syrup to comply with the regulations of the Sugar Regulatory Administration despite tremendous pressure to circumvent the law.
