Sen. Risa Hontiveros this Friday criticized the Sugar Regulatory Administration’s (SRA) plan to sell at least 4,000 metric tons of smuggled sugar for P70/kilo.
Hontiveros said she is more in favor of giving the smuggled sugar to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for the unfortunate and victims of calamities.
“Kaysa mabulok o ibenta para makitaan pa, bakit hindi na lang ibigay ng libre sa mga kababayan nating nangyari at biktima ng kalamidad? Maraming nagugutom ngayon at kinakapos dahil sa mataas na presyo ng bilihin,” said Hontiveros.
Hontiveros added if the smuggled sugar is to be sold, it should only be for P65/kilo.
“Sa komputasyon ng aking opisina, dapat P65 lang ang presyo ng asukal na imported galing Thailand… Pero bakit mataas pa rin ang presyo kung ibebenta?” the senator said.
The senator insisted the DA and SRA can also extend their collaboration with stakeholders in the local sugar industry to increase production yield.
“Hindi kailangang umasa ng Kadiwa stores sa mga puslit na asukal para mura ang benta nito. Kailangang sugpuin ang pribadong kartel sa asukal na nagpapataas ng presyo, dahil na rin sa kagagawan ng gobyerno,” said Hontiveros.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. authorized the sale of 4,000 metric tons of illicitly obtained refined sugar at Kadiwa centers for P70 per kilogram.
Hontiveros opposes sale of seized smuggled sugar to public
The Sugar Regulatory Board has approved the importation of 440,000 metric tons of sugar for 2023.
As per the SRA, the imported sugar will help to augment the local sugar supply and is anticipated to alleviate the escalating retail sugar prices in the market.
The SRA also mentioned that the sugar imports would be delivered in phases, with an initial 100,000 metric tons to arrive as soon as possible and another 100,000 metric tons scheduled for arrival from April 1 onwards.
Furthermore, the agency stated that the remaining 240,000 metric tons would be utilized as the country’s buffer stock.
Although there is a surge in local sugar production, the SRA acknowledged that it is insufficient to fulfil the country’s demand until the end of the year.
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