History

Philippine Sugar Millers Association (PSMA) was organized in 1922 as the Philippine Sugar Association (PSA), an organization of sugar producers which was initially involved in research and development. Through its efforts, PSA earned credit for having substantially helped in increasing sugar yield in the country and improving milling efficiency.

The PSA also concerned itself with the protection of the interests of the sugar industry in working for favorable legislation both in the Philippines and in the United States, which was the country's principal export market. This activity was of utmost importance as the survival of the sugar industry depended, to a large extent, on the entry of Philippine sugar in the US market.

After WWII, the PSA re-established its offices in Washington and was instrumental in laying the groundwork for increasing the Philippine sugar quota.

It was incorporated on September 4, 1991 with the mission of promoting the continued advancement and the protection of the sugar industry.


Objectives

Among its objectives are:

• to promote closer relationship and better cooperation among industry participants;
• to provide a forum for discussion of industry problems;
• to secure collective action on matters of common interest to members;
• to represent members in dealing with government agencies and other sectors;
• to conduct market studies on supply requirements and marketing of products;
• to support experiment stations, research laboratories and other support activities; and
• to provide the machinery for the settlement of disputes among members.

The Association is maintained by means of ordinary and special assessments by members which produce some 78% of total Philippine sugar production.

The services and resources provided by the PSMA for its members include:

• office facilities and staff located in the country's business center in Ayala Avenue, Makati City;
• weekly update and monthly analysis of sugar statistics;
• representation in government policy-making agencies such as the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), the Sugar Tripartite Council (STC) and other sectors concerned with the industry;
• promotion of industry interests in international markets and organizations;
• public relations and access to TV and print media;
• training and technical update through the PSMA Technology Exchange Center; and
• library of latest issues of leading international publications on sugar technology and economics.

In accordance with its mission, the PSMA also conducts studies on sugar production, consumption, and demand. Its data bank is the repository of domestic and international economic data and statistics and is constantly upgraded. It conducts or sponsors seminars, and offers grants for economic, industrial, technical and agricultural research.

It has made its presence felt internationally as it has assumed the role of coordinator or representative of common Philippine sugar interests in international organizations, conventions, fora and seminars, colloquims, etc. It has, through its officers, given speeches or presented papers at these venues, debated actively, and acted as proponent of strategies that in the future should strengthen the international competitiveness of Philippine sugar. It sponsors attendance to meetings of such bodies as the International Sugar Organization (ISO), the U.N. Commodity Body for Sugar, the International Society of Sugarcane Technologists, and others.

Most recently, the PSMA has involved itself with issues of global concern and significance relative to sugar, such as:

• trade liberalization;
• tariff levels;
• rules of origin;
• environmental legislation and regulation;
• cogeneration; and
• harmonization of quality standards through the International Commission for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis (ICUMSA) and Codex Alimentarius and other organizations, etc.