Imports, pests and alternative sweeteners threaten PH sugar industry

The Philippine sugar industry faces six overlapping systemic stressors that threaten farmer livelihoods, cooperative strength and national food security. Overimportation during crop year 2025-26 depressed farmgate prices by 38%, inflicting ₱7.28 billion in direct losses and ₱19.78 billion when indirect costs are included. El Niño-related losses projected for 2026-27 range from ₱2 billion to ₱4 billion in direct yield reductions and from ₱7.1 billion to ₱11 billion when indirect effects are considered. An infestation of the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI), Pulvinaria tenuivalvata, threatens up to 390,000 metric tons of sugar valued at ₱15.6 billion under a worst-case scenario. Rising […]...

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