Sugar imports to hurt industry, won't affect prices: group | ABS-CBN
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Sugar imports to hurt industry, won't affect prices: group
Sugar imports to hurt industry, won't affect prices: group
ABS-CBN News
Published Feb 15, 2023 12:00 PM PHT
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Updated Feb 15, 2023 06:17 PM PHT
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MANILA (UPDATE)– A group of farmers is opposing the government’s move to import 440,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar into the country to ensure supply stability and curb price hikes in the commodity.
MANILA (UPDATE)– A group of farmers is opposing the government’s move to import 440,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar into the country to ensure supply stability and curb price hikes in the commodity.
Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) chairperson Ariel Casilao said importation will hurt the local sugar industry.
Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) chairperson Ariel Casilao said importation will hurt the local sugar industry.
“Kung usapin po ng pagpasok ng, pagbaha ng 440,000MT ng asukal, ay tiyak naman pong babagsak din ang ating local na asukal, yung local nating produksyon, na kung saan sa ngayon ay ongoing na ang milling or milling season ang tinatawag sa ngayon,” he said in a TeleRadyo interview.
“Kung usapin po ng pagpasok ng, pagbaha ng 440,000MT ng asukal, ay tiyak naman pong babagsak din ang ating local na asukal, yung local nating produksyon, na kung saan sa ngayon ay ongoing na ang milling or milling season ang tinatawag sa ngayon,” he said in a TeleRadyo interview.
Casilao said the sugar supply in the country is enough for domestic consumption.
Casilao said the sugar supply in the country is enough for domestic consumption.
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“Ang nagkukulang ay yung tinatawag natin sa bottlers, doon sa mga gumagawa ng mga softdrinks o yung iba pang mga korporasyon na nangangailangan ng refined sugar,” he explained.
“Ang nagkukulang ay yung tinatawag natin sa bottlers, doon sa mga gumagawa ng mga softdrinks o yung iba pang mga korporasyon na nangangailangan ng refined sugar,” he explained.
He said this problem, in turn, could have been solved had government funded the modernization of sugar mills around the country.
He said this problem, in turn, could have been solved had government funded the modernization of sugar mills around the country.
“Yung kakulangan po ng ating production ng refined sugar ay mauungkat natin po yan doon sa backward na mga kagamitan ng ating mga refineries dito sa ating bansa. May mga makinarya natin sa mga milling and mga refineries natin ay 50-100 years old.”
“Yung kakulangan po ng ating production ng refined sugar ay mauungkat natin po yan doon sa backward na mga kagamitan ng ating mga refineries dito sa ating bansa. May mga makinarya natin sa mga milling and mga refineries natin ay 50-100 years old.”
“Pero sa sinasabi sa SIDA o Sugar Industry Development Act, ay dapat nabibigyan ng sapat na pondo para doon sa maintenance and development ng ating local sugar industry,” he noted.
“Pero sa sinasabi sa SIDA o Sugar Industry Development Act, ay dapat nabibigyan ng sapat na pondo para doon sa maintenance and development ng ating local sugar industry,” he noted.
Casilao said he doubts that importation will really bring down sugar prices in the country.
Casilao said he doubts that importation will really bring down sugar prices in the country.
“Actually sa mga nagdaang mga importasyon eh hindi naman talaga bumaba ang presyo. Yan din ang pinangako sa usapin ng presyo ng bigas. Nagkaroon ba ng 20 kada kilo o P25 kada kilo ng bigas sa merkado dahil sa mga imported, pagpasok ng mga imported na bigas? Wala,” he said.
“Actually sa mga nagdaang mga importasyon eh hindi naman talaga bumaba ang presyo. Yan din ang pinangako sa usapin ng presyo ng bigas. Nagkaroon ba ng 20 kada kilo o P25 kada kilo ng bigas sa merkado dahil sa mga imported, pagpasok ng mga imported na bigas? Wala,” he said.
For the former lawmaker, the government should help should help revive the operations of a big sugar mill that has shut down.
For the former lawmaker, the government should help should help revive the operations of a big sugar mill that has shut down.
“Mayroon po tayong kongkretong hinaharap ngayon, nagsara po ang isa sa mga malaking milling corporation natin dito sa Batangas, itong…Central Azucarera Don Pedro, Inc na kung saan ito’y nagmi-mill ng 12,000MT kada araw. Nagsara po ito dahil nalulugi na ang local na negosyante o may-ari na mga Roxas.”
“Mayroon po tayong kongkretong hinaharap ngayon, nagsara po ang isa sa mga malaking milling corporation natin dito sa Batangas, itong…Central Azucarera Don Pedro, Inc na kung saan ito’y nagmi-mill ng 12,000MT kada araw. Nagsara po ito dahil nalulugi na ang local na negosyante o may-ari na mga Roxas.”
“Ang pwede pong magawa ng gobyerno dito ay temporarily i-take over o magkaroon ng isang joint operational management contract between the Roxas the owner, and Sugar Regulatory (Administration) SRA para magpapatuloy ang milling,” he said.
“Ang pwede pong magawa ng gobyerno dito ay temporarily i-take over o magkaroon ng isang joint operational management contract between the Roxas the owner, and Sugar Regulatory (Administration) SRA para magpapatuloy ang milling,” he said.
SOME SUGAR PRODUCERS WELCOME GOVT'S MOVE
A group of sugar producers, however, said they welcome government’s move to import more sugar.
A group of sugar producers, however, said they welcome government’s move to import more sugar.
Manuel Lamata of the United Sugar Producers Federation said this move will help consumers.
Manuel Lamata of the United Sugar Producers Federation said this move will help consumers.
“Para po yung consumers natin po tsaka yung mga baker, mga panaderia, makatikim naman ng murang asukal sa mercado,” he said.
“Para po yung consumers natin po tsaka yung mga baker, mga panaderia, makatikim naman ng murang asukal sa mercado,” he said.
“Sobra-sobra naman yung ginagawa ng mga traders natin eh, that is all because of speculation eh. Nag-speculate sila na baka kulang yung sugar natin for the year, nag-stock up sila, nag-stock ng bili nang bili ng asukal tapos unti-unti nare-release sa market,” he said.
“Sobra-sobra naman yung ginagawa ng mga traders natin eh, that is all because of speculation eh. Nag-speculate sila na baka kulang yung sugar natin for the year, nag-stock up sila, nag-stock ng bili nang bili ng asukal tapos unti-unti nare-release sa market,” he said.
“Ngayon, kung pumasok na ‘tong 440, eh wala na silang magawa…ang bili nilang mahal, eh wala silang choice, they have to to sell it cheap,” he added.
“Ngayon, kung pumasok na ‘tong 440, eh wala na silang magawa…ang bili nilang mahal, eh wala silang choice, they have to to sell it cheap,” he added.
Pablo Luis Azcona, a board member of the Sugar Regulatory Administration representing the planters sector, assured stakeholders that they have measures to ensure that imports will not put farmers at a disadvantage.
Pablo Luis Azcona, a board member of the Sugar Regulatory Administration representing the planters sector, assured stakeholders that they have measures to ensure that imports will not put farmers at a disadvantage.
The importation aims to reduce the retail price of sugar to 85 percent "without hurting the farmers," he said.
The importation aims to reduce the retail price of sugar to 85 percent "without hurting the farmers," he said.
"We have naman po guidelines to identify po the importers in good standing, tapos mayroon naman tayong performance bond to make sure that they do as promised," Azcona said in a televised briefing.
"We have naman po guidelines to identify po the importers in good standing, tapos mayroon naman tayong performance bond to make sure that they do as promised," Azcona said in a televised briefing.
"'Yong inaangkat na asukal po, iyong plano talaga noon is to help lower the consumer price, at the same time making sure po na iyong farmers natin get a fair price so they can continue planting and hopefully i-expand po iyong mga farms nila para magiging self-sufficient po tayo sa asukal," he said.
"'Yong inaangkat na asukal po, iyong plano talaga noon is to help lower the consumer price, at the same time making sure po na iyong farmers natin get a fair price so they can continue planting and hopefully i-expand po iyong mga farms nila para magiging self-sufficient po tayo sa asukal," he said.
--TeleRadyo, 15 February 2023
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