A new bill in the Philippine House of Representatives seeks to allocate a P5 billion annual budget to aid the sugar industry while imposing temporary restrictions on sugar imports to protect local farmers and address production challenges.
A bill aiming to boost the Philippine sugar industry’s sustainability and protect local farmers has been filed in the House of Representatives. Negros Occidental 3rd District Representative Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez introduced House Bill 9088, known as the Tunay na Ugnayan, Buhay, at Oportunidad sa Asukal (TUBO) Act. The legislation proposes an annual budget of P5 billion starting in 2027, targeting critical needs within the industry.
The bill earmarks 30 percent of the funds for farm-to-mill road improvements and irrigation systems, while 20 percent will focus on climate adaptation and resilience efforts. The measure also addresses pressing concerns, including combating the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation, which had affected 134,000 hectares nationwide as of September 2026, with 95,000 hectares impacted in Negros Occidental alone.
Importantly, the TUBO Act proposes an 18-month moratorium on commercial sugar imports upon enactment, allowing exceptions only for verified shortages. Subsequent importation would be strictly data-driven, permitted only when raw sugar stocks fall below a 200,000-ton threshold, and banned during the first three months of the milling season. This approach seeks to prevent arbitrary import decisions that could harm local farmers.
To enhance transparency and accountability, the bill mandates random and unannounced audits of mill laboratories, with severe penalties for tampering, including fines and license suspension or revocation. It also requires timely public disclosure of sugar import orders, votes, and dissenting opinions within 15 days, alongside establishing a public dashboard tracking industry fund usage and beneficiaries. Biannual consultations with stakeholders such as farmers, workers, agrarian reform beneficiaries, millers, and refiners are also mandated.
Additional support measures encompassed in the bill include block farming programs, socialized credit, discounts of up to 30 percent on fertilizers and machinery, emergency cash assistance during pest outbreaks or natural calamities, temporary relief on loan penalties, price-support purchases, auditable mill measurements, and improvements to farm-to-mill infrastructure.
Benitez emphasized that the bill remains subject to feedback from sugar farmers and stakeholders, with ongoing consultations informing the technical working group’s refinement of the legislation. The TUBO Act represents a comprehensive effort to ensure the Philippine sugar industry’s viability, protect farmer livelihoods, and introduce data-driven governance over import policies.
Sources referenced:
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/1004566/p5b-budget-sought-for-sugar-industry-restricted-importation-in-new-bill/story/
