Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella is seeking an investigation on the approval by the Department of Trade and Industry of the proposal of a beverage company to import sugar, a plan which, he said, poses grave danger to the country's economy.

"This situation is worth investigating at the earliest time so that the stakeholders in the sugar industry will be given opportunity the opportunity to adequately present and consequently protect their interests," Puentevella said in his privilege speech at the House of Representatives yesterday.

Cebu Rep. Clavel Asas-Martinez concurred in his position after an interpolation, Puentevella said.

The solon's speech came after the Confederation of the Sugar Producers Associations Inc. and the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters Inc. aired their opposition to reports that DTI Secretary Favila is amenable to the proposal to allow beverage companies to import to enable them to lower their manufacturing costs.

CONFED had earlier said that allowing these firms to import sugar would lead to too much sugar supply and cause prices to plunge.

Puentevella said that DTI's consent to the proposal of Zesto Corp. to import more sugar "for sure will be followed by other beverage companies (and) will ruin the industry that provides life to eight million Filipinos living in sugar producing provinces, including Negros Occidental."

"Kawawa ang mga sugar workers (The sugar workers are to be pitied). This is the only time that sugar producers are recovering their losses through the years," he said.*NLG

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