BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Sugar Regulatory Administration has approved “in principle” the importation of 150,000 metric tons of refined sugar, after coming up with Sugar Order Number 2.
In a statement, SRA acting administrator David John Thaddeus Alba, however, said they will still have to draw up mechanics covering the order, after consultations with all industry stakeholders.
Beverage companies composed of Pepsi Cola Products Philippines, Inc., Coca Cola Beverages Phils. Inc. and ARC Refreshment Corporation confirmed of a shortage of premium refined sugar, a key ingredient in many of their products.
Coca-Cola Philippines said the 150,000 metric tons (MT) to be imported by the government is not enough, stressing that there is a shortage of 600,000 MT of refined sugar.
“We’d like to emphasize, however, that not all sugar is the same. Food and beverage manufacturers need premium refined sugar to maintain high-quality products. This type of sugar is not the same sugar that is commonly used in households,” the company said in a statement.
The bottling company said they told the President the industry needs at least 450,000 MT of premium refined bottler grade sugar to utilize 100 percent of its manufacturing capacity for the balance of the year.
Alba also said that the Sugar Board “just took office and we ask our industry partners to indulge us with some time so we can address this issue based on established facts.”
Acknowledging a shortage in refined sugar, Alba said they “are presently consolidating the data as to how much is really needed, so we can recommend the necessary actions we need to take to the President.”
While we know that Coca Cola is in a critical place in their sugar needs, we would like to emphasize that Pepsi and RC Cola still have their available supply as per our records, he stressed.
When the Sugar Board was recently convened by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Alba said they were ordered to immediately come up with Sugar Order No. 1, regarding sugar allocation.
He said that the Sugar Board has recommended that all sugar for this crop year will be classified as “B” or domestic sugar.
There will be no allocation for the US quota, Alba said, stressing also this also be subjected to thorough consultation with all industry stakeholders.
On the other hand, Negros Occidental Board Member Andrew Montelibano, who chairs the Sangguniang Panlalawigan committee on Agriculture, congratulated Alba and two other Sugar Board members, Pablo Luis Azcona and Ma. Mitzi Mangwag, stressing that their appointment is “a right move as they understand and love the sugar industry.”*
