April 26, 2017
By BY GILBERT BAYORAN
Visayan Daily Star
Source: http://www.visayandailystar.com/2017/April/26/topstory2.htm

The Coca-Cola beverage company may have signed a contract to be among the sponsors of the ongoing Ugyonan Festival of EB Magalona in Negros Occidental, but Mayor Marvin Malacon said he is supporting the move of other local government units to ban its products in the town.

Malacon, who opened the weeklong Ugyonan Festival celebrations yesterday, said “I am with the banning of Coke products”, adding that the use of high-fructose corn syrup affects the sugar farmers in Negros Occidental.

He explained that the sponsorship deal with the beverage firm for the Ugyonan Festival had all been finalized in January, long before some local government units, as well as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, called for the boycott of Coca-Cola products during their respective festivities.

After the festival, Malacon said he will ask the Sangguniang Bayan to pass a resolution, in support of the boycott of Coke products.

Sugar industry stakeholders are up in arms over Coca-Cola's use of HFCS as a substitute for locally-produced cane sugar, and the boycott on its products continues to get more support.

The local governments of La Carlota, Hinigaran, Murcia and Isabela have already imposed boycotts of Coke products during their festivals, in support of the stand of the SP of Negros Occidental, that also banned the sponsorship of Coca-Cola in the ongoing Panaad sa Negros Festival, and the sale of its products at the festival site in Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City.

Malacon said he was told by Nathaniel Pugales, a resident of EB Magalona, who is now the regional sales manager of Coca-Cola, that the giant beverage company is using locally-produced sugar in the manufacturing of Coca-Cola softdrinks in bottles.

In fact, they have stocks of 46,000 sacks of sugar in their warehouse, which have been purchased from the Lopez sugar central, Malacon, quoting Pugales, said.

Malacon said he already explained his side to Pugales, who understands his situation.

He added that the plans to ban Coca-Cola products in EB Magalona will go on, until it is lifted by other LGUs, and the Negros Occidental SP.

The Negros Occidental Association of Chief Executives also passed a resolution supporting the boycott.

Despite the boycott of its products by some local government units and restaurants in Negros Occidental, Coca-Cola Philippines maintained that they are coping and still doing well.*GPB