The United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines on Thursday, Jan 15, thanked the national government for granting its request to export 100 metric tons of raw sugar to the United States to decongest the local market.
UNIFED president Manuel Lamata said they are thanking President Ferdinand Marcos, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Sugar Regulatory Administrator Paul Azcona and the Sugar Board.
The sugar order of the DA and SRA granting of the export of the 100,000 MT brought the prices of sugar up right away this week, and a further hike is expected next week, Lamata said.
“The formula of the Confederation of Sugar Producers’ Associations and the Philippine Sugar Millers Association to do nothing and announce a moratorium on imports was supposed to bring prices up, according to them. It did not work,” Lamata said.
He said UNIFED is also seeking the help of the president, the DA and SRA as beverage firms are using artificial sweeteners for their products.
“Those are very toxic chemicals that they are selling to the Filipino people. Pls do something about this,” he said.*