• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The convenors of the Save the Sugar Industry Movement (SAVE-SIM) will be submitting an omnibus resolution to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. next week, urging him to hold in abeyance the implementation of the plan to import 450,000 metric tons of refined sugar.
Wennie Sancho, SAVE-SIM lead convenor, yesterday said they are amenable to the importation of sugar at a more conservative volume, typically lesser than 450,000 MT, so there will be no glut or oversupply. Most of all, they demand from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), in as much as it is composed of accountable government officers, to give their actual projection – how much is the buffer stock, and how much is the monthly consumption of consumers and industrial users, so they will know how much is needed and if there really is a shortage.
“Giving us mere speculations would be dangerous since sugar is a vital commodity that should be safeguarded and the projection should be that much so there will be no oversupply, since at this point in time the milling season is active and we will have buffer stock,” he said.
Sancho said they will furnish a copy of the omnibus resolution to the SRA, the Regional Development Council (RDC), and to all planters associations: Confederation of Sugar Producers’ Association Inc. (CONFEC), United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED) and United Sugar Producers Federation (NSPF) for their perusal and information with regards to this very important matter.*
