BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A Temporary Restraining Order has been issued by Sagay Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Reginald Fuentebella enjoining and restraining the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) from implementing its Sugar Order Number 3 that allows importation of 200,000 metric tons of sugar.
Fuentebella, in his order dated February 11, said that the issued TRO will be affective for 20 days, with motion for the writ of preliminary injunction filed by Rural Sugar Planter’s Association Inc. against the SRA, has been set on Feb. 24, through a video conference.
Joseph Edgar Sarrosa, who represented the Rural Sugar Planter’s Association Inc, assailed the importation of sugar, which he said will bring about grave injustice, untold irreparable injury, losses and damages to the sugar industry that has already been devastated by typhoon Odette, since this will negatively impact the price of sugar.
Sarrosa added that there is no basis for the issuance of SO Number 3,as SRA administrator Hermenegildo Serafica himself stated that “there is no reason for prices to increase, since supply is stable, despite effects of typhoon Odette.”
The importation of sugar reportedly starts next month.
Sarrosa yesterday said that the TRO decision is now on its way to be served to Serafica in Manila.
Former SRA board member Dino Yulo said the local raw sugar prices dropped by P230 per 50-lkg bag after the SRA announcement to allow sugar importation.
Sarrosa said that Serafica, who is also a sugar planter, should know the possible repercussions of an “ill-timed, ill-planned issuance of the sugar order.”
Worst hit, he added, are 90 percent of sugar farmers who are already suffering from the skyrocketing prices of farm inputs, and will suffer more due to the drop of sugar prices.
Since last year, we have been appealing to SRA and Department of Agriculture, as well as other government agencies to help us with the high price of farm inputs, whether through a price freeze or subsidies, but nothing came through, Sarrosa further said.
Manuel Lamata, president of the United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED), of which the Rural Sugar Planters Association, Inc. is a member, said “we must put a stop to the damage already caused by the SRA and administrator Serafica, and their inaction on our various appeals to avert an agricultural crisis.”
Serafica has claimed that the sugar order aims to ensure stability of its local market prices, in response to complaints on high prices of sugar as of this time.
But Lamata said that SO3 does not directly answer to the so-called complaints of local vendors, as half of the imported supply will go to bottling companies.
Reiterating his call for the resignation of Serafica, also a former member of UNIFED, Lamata claimed that the SRA chief is not competent enough to manage the sugar industry.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental earlier passed a resolution raising its objection to importation of sugar.
Senate majority floor leader Juan Miguel Zubiri also filed a resolution directing the Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the recent order of SRA to allow sugar importation even at the height of the harvest and milling season.
Former Board Member Edgardo Acuña, also a sugar planter, said that the 200,000 metric tons of sugar allowed to be imported under SO3 is “too much.”
Importation should be in tranches and should be allowed only after the milling season, Acuña also said.
Sarrosa, on the other hand, also said that other planters’ groups are also planning to file a TRO against SO3.
We are hoping for the best and preparing for the worst, he added.*
