SRA Calls on Sugar Mills to Raise Trucking Allowance Amid Rising Fuel Costs
MANILA — The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) on Wednesday urged sugar mills nationwide to increase trucking allowances for cane farmers as a response to soaring transport costs driven by global oil price shocks.
In a letter to the country’s sugar producers, SRA Board Member David Andrew Sanson appealed for higher allowances as a supplementary measure alongside existing government relief programs.
“We are all trying to survive this crisis, and I hope the sugar industry stakeholders will come together to help each other and ensure the future of our beloved sugar industry,” Sanson said, emphasizing the appeal was made on humanitarian grounds.
Negros Island, the Philippines’ top sugar-producing region, has seen diesel prices exceed PHP120 per liter in many areas, putting immense financial pressure on farmers and threatening the continuity of cane supply.
Raising the trucking allowance would help farmers offset rising fuel costs, particularly if the global oil price hike persists.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is also set to begin releasing PHP10 billion in cash assistance on April 6 under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF) program. More than 102,000 sugar farmers are expected to receive PHP2,325 each under the initiative.
The SRA’s call highlights the urgent need for cooperative efforts among industry stakeholders and the government to protect the livelihoods of sugar farmers during the ongoing energy and economic challenges.
NPO News Team | Philippine News Agency - PR
