The company producing coke has expressed its hope.
COKE – The Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines has already expressed that it is willing to purchase more sugar from the Filipino farmers.
The issue between the Filipino farmers and the giant company behind the coke, a soda drink, revolves around the sugar. Recently, Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has directed the Sugar Regulation Industry (SRA) to regulate the importation of the high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
Based on a recent report on ABS-CBN News, the Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines is willing to purchase more from the Filipino farmers if they will align the prices closer to the prices of the world market.
According to legal and corporate affairs director Jorenz Tañada, the firm behind coke is looking for “some reconsideration” on the order of the government with regards to the entry of HFCS in the country.
The HFCS, an alternative for sugar which comes at a lower price, has been accused by the Filipino farmers as the one affecting their source of income.
Based on the news report, during a plant tour, the legal and corporate director expressed that aside from the quality and the reliability of the sugar, purchasing a greater amount of the product is a “question of price”.
Tañada added that when compared to the prices in the world market, the sugar from the Philippines is from 30 up to 40 percent higher in price.
He expressed that they can “absorb” more of the product if it comes with a price that is “basically closer” to the prices in the world market.
Based on the news report, the HFCS is imported from other nations and China is one of them as revealed by the legal and corporate affairs director. Tañada revealed that it fills 80% of the sweeteners that are utilized in the products of Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines.
Based on a previous news report, around 10 thousand people from Negros expressed opposition towards drinking the products of the company which can affect not just the source of income of the farmers but also the health of the drinkers.