The Sugar Council on Wednesday, May 29, announced that it is supporting the declaration of the Philippine Sugar Millers Association (PSMA) that the country has enough sugar inventory to last even beyond the end of the crop year, and that there is no need for sugar importation any time soon.
The Sugar Council is a coalition of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations Inc., National Federation of Sugarcane Planters Inc. and Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers Inc., which together account for 67 percent of affiliated sugar production. Similarly, the combined volume of sugar produced by mills that are members of PSMA reach over 65 percent nationwide, the Sugar Council press statement said.
Similarly, the combined volume of sugar produced by mills that are members of PSMA reach over 65 percent nationwide, a Sugar Council press statement said.
The Sugar Council said it also found equally disturbing the allegation that withdrawals for imported refined sugar shot up by 16 percent while withdrawals for locally refined sugar plummeted by over 7 percent. Since locally refined sugar comes from the local farmers’ raw sugar, demand for raw sugar also dropped by over 4 percent, much to the disadvantage of local farmers, the Sugar Council said.
“These numbers suggest that imported refined sugar is being prioritized over locally refined sugar,” it said.
While the Sugar Council admits that sugar importation is needed to maintain stability of retail prices during off-milling season, a calibrated and transparent importation program must be in place to ensure that locally produced sugar is not prejudiced, it added.
This validates the call for active consultation with stakeholders, especially sugar farmers groups, to be conducted before any sugar importation order is issued, the Sugar Council said.*