DA Says That PH Is Preparing for One More Round of Sugar Importation

According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), the country is set for one more round of sugar importation as the domestic supply is expected to be drained by end of August.

Agriculture Undersecretary-designate Kristine Y. Evangelista stated that the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is due to meet with stakeholders of the sugar industry to tackle the supply situation in the country.

Evangelista states that the meeting agenda will contain the proposal of the SRA for more sugar imports and the enactment of a suggested retail price for both imported and locally-made sugar items.

The volume of sugar imports to be bought will also be tackled in the meeting.

Evangelista has mentioned that sugar imports would solve the needs of households and industrial users.

“We will have to determine the requirements of both the industrial users and the households,” she says. “Our current sugar supply is very, very thin. It is still not enough, but our direction for the meantime is looking into a [new] sugar order for importation.”

To secure the country’s sugar supply, Evangelista says that the additional sugar imports have to come in the next month.

“The imports must arrive before the end of August. As far as timing is concerned, that is our promise to ensure that we will have additional stocks by the time our current supply is depleted.”

With the SRA’s figures, Evangelista also says that the current supply of refined sugar in the country will be depleted come the end of August.

Source: Business Mirror