Marcos to reorganize Sugar Regulatory Administration

MANILA - President Bongbong Marcos said he would reorganize the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) in an effort to find ways to address issues plaguing the sugar industry.

“We’ll reorganize the SRA and then we will come to an arrangement with the industrial consumers, with the planters, the millers, suppliers of the sugar to coordinate para talaga kung ano ‘yung mayroon, kung ano ‘yung available, mailabas na sa merkado,” Marcos said.

Marcos said he would let the legislature investigate the sugar importation issue, stressing that his focus is addressing the challenges confronting food and beverage manufacturers.

He pointed out that there is a need to immediately address the problems hounding the industry to avert a looming sugar shortage, which may affect local sugar workers and their families. 

“Because right now, they are starting to cut down the days of the week na nagtatrabaho and we are very worried of course about jobs. So ‘yun ang iniintindi ko talaga right now,” he said.

The President also expressed confidence that his talks with industry stakeholders especially manufacturers would yield positive results as far as sufficiency of local supply is concerned.

“That’s what we are negotiating with the traders now. Hihingin natin… They first offered at 80 pesos (per kilo) so sabi ko, ‘Hingiin ko na ‘yung 70 pesos, tulungan niyo na lang kasi kawawa naman ang tao.’ And we’re getting there,” he said.

The sugar situation is similar to other agricultural commodities in the Philippines, the President said, noting that the government is being compelled to import to replenish local requirements when there is shortage in production.

“To cut production costs, the government extends subsidies and fertilizer to farmers,” he emphasized. 

Marcos earlier ordered an investigation into a failed attempt to import some 300,000 tons of sugar, according to Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles.

 

Angeles said the Sugar Order No. 4 issued by the Sugar Regulatory Administration, which supposedly directs the importation of sugar, is allegedly illegal.

“The Chairman of the Sugar Regulatory Board is President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. As such, the chairman sets the date of any meetings or convening of the Sugar Regulatory Board and its agenda. No such meeting was authorized by the President or such a resolution likewise, was not authorized,” Angeles bared, adding the resolution appears to have been signed by Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian on behalf of Marcos.

Sebastian has resigned from his post shortly after Marcos ordered the probe.

Angeles said Sebastian was not authorized to sign in behalf of Marcos. “An investigation is ongoing to determine whether any act that would 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,” Angeles said.

“He (Sebastian) was not authorized to sign such a resolution because the President did not authorize the importation,” Angeles said, adding importations are a sensitive matter, particularly concerning agricultural imports.

“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,” Angeles said. (Mindanao Examiner)