• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental Representative Emilio Bernardino Yulo III yesterday called on the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to carefully explain the merits of trying to export 25,300 metric tons of raw sugar to the United States, while at the same time, bringing in 200,000 MT of refined sugar.
“I think they just need to be transparent about everything so that we can allay any fears on what’s going to happen,” Yulo, who used to be a board member of SRA, said.
On Tuesday, 25,300 metric tons of raw sugar loaded on the cargo vessel Tate J, left BREDCO Port in Bacolod City, bound for the United States, to fill the Philippines’ share of the US sugar quota.
Sugar Order No. 3 allows “the Philippines to fulfill its US quota allocation of 25,300 MT,” the first export of sugar this year to participate in future import programs.
“This will balance out the supply of raw sugar in the country when milling starts this September,” SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona earlier said.
Asked for his opinion on the sugar exportation, Yulo said “I think at this present time, we should be putting up our sugar, to ensure sufficient supply. Let’s keep our sugar all domestic, particularly for Sugar Order Number 1.”
In Sugar Order No. 1 S-2023-2024, the SRA said sugar production is expected to be around 1.85 million metric tons, which shall be quedanned by mill companies as “B” or for the domestic market.
SRA estimates a drop in domestic production of at least 10 to 15 percent, depending on the severity of the El Niño weather phenomenon.
The Philippines’ last shipment to the US was during the crop year 2020–2021, when it shipped 112,008 MT of commercial raw sugar.
SRA plans to import around 200,000 MT of refined sugar later this year, to fill an anticipated supply gap, and ensure the price stability of the commodity.*
