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SRA importation zarzuela shocks, disgusts

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BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN

UNIFED president Manuel Lamata yesterday said that they were “shocked and disgusted” with the “zarzuela” at the Sugar Regulatory Board, which he said acted illegally in issuing Sugar Order Number 4 which supposedly directs the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said an investigation is ongoing over the “unauthorized” signing of the document directing the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar on top of what had already been imported in May of this year.

“An investigation is ongoing to determine whether any acts that will cause the President to lose trust and confidence in his officials can be found, or if there is malice or negligence involved. In such a case, if such findings are made then the only determination left will be how many heads are going to roll,” Cruz-Angeles added.

She said that the resolution, uploaded on the website of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) but later deleted, was not authorized by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who also sits as the SRA chairperson.

“It appears that the resolution was signed for and on behalf of the President by [Department of Agriculture] Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian. He was not authorized to sign such a resolution because the President did not authorize the importation,” she said in a Palace press briefing.

Cruz-Angeles added that importations, particularly agricultural importations, are a sensitive matter that needs to be “carefully studied.”

“Sugar is one such importation which we take great care with. It is a balancing act. The importation has to be carefully studied to protect both the consumer against the rising prices of basic commodities while ensuring at the same time that we do not destroy the local industry,” she said.

Retail prices of sugar which are traditionally only around PHP50 per kilogram, are currently beyond PHP100 per kg in wet markets and grocery stores.

DA Undersecretary Kristine Evangelista earlier attributed the rise in the prices of sugar to tight supply.

The country’s sugar supply is expected to last until the third week of August, SRA chief Hermenegildo Serafica earlier said.

Lamata said “they made us believe that this went through proper consultation and had the imprimatur of the president.”

We are thankful that the order was revoked as we are against importation, especially of raw sugar now that milling operations has started, he added.* with report from PNA

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