The Department of Justice has rendered an opinion that a new law is needed to revive the Philippine Sugar Corporation (PHILSUCOR) that wasabolished in 2018 after 35 years from its creation in 1983 by the late former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
In a legal opinion issued Jan. 3 upon request by Presidential Management Staff Senior Undersecretary Elaine Masukat, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla stressed that “a legislation needs to be passed by Congress to revive the abolished PHILSUCOR.”
“PHILSUCOR is a chartered GOCC (government-owned and controlled corporation), having been created pursuant to P.D. (Presidential Decree) No. 1890, and taking into account the provisions of R.A. (Republic Act) No. 10149 (GOCC Governance Act of 2011), in relation to GCG (Governance Commission for GOCCs) Memorandum Circular No. 2015-03, it can be abolished by executive order but not revived in the same manner,” Remulla said.
Masukat sought the opinion after President Marcos instructed the Departments of Agriculture, Budget, Finance, GCG, and the Sugar Regulatory Commission “to study the viability of reviving and operating the PHILSUCOR to provide sugar farmers access to funding support.”
