The Senate leadership has asked its Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to investigate on the entry of 260 vans of sugar that reportedly favors powerful players and importers and create virtual monopolies.
Through her Senate Resolution (SR) No. 497, Senator Risa Hontiveros said the 260 vans were unloaded by three ships in Batangas with the consignee bearing he name of ALL ASIAN COUNTER TRADE Inc. and using three shippers.
The resolution stated that there is a need to investigate exactly how sugar shipments were allowed entry into Philippine ports absent a Sugar Order (SO), as well as to identify gaps in policy that need to be addressed in order to effectively curtail agricultural smuggling, and smuggling of regulated commodities like sugar.
‘’Whereas, at a time of high prices and sugar shortages, it is imperative to review policies that allow the favoring of powerful players and importers and create virtual monopolies on basic commodities,’’ it said.
‘’Whereas, if there are identified individuals involved in this fiasco then the Senate should recommend charges of violation of Republic Act (RA) No. 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act and/or No. 3019, or the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,’’ it added.
Hontiveros stressed that on Feb. 15, 2023, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) issued SO No.6, which allows the importation of 440,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar, and which states that the SRA shall only begin accepting applications for five calendar dates from the date of effectivity of the SO which is Feb. 18, and shall only be awarding allocations for five calendar days after the last day of receiving applications.
She pointed out that going by the timelines in the issuance, the earliest date to bring in imported sugar under SO No. 6 is March 1, 2023.
The lady lawmaker said many players in the sugar industry also raised equity and fairness issues in SO No. 6, including how the Department of Agriculture (DA) could approve seemingly any amount allocation without any restriction - with no criteria, no ceiling, no formula with which to determine how allocation is given to each importer.
Quoting insiders, Hontiveros said there are already three identified importers - All Asian Countertrade, Sucden Philippines Inc. at Edison Lee Marketing Corporation - and at least two of importers have purportedly received, as early as January 13, 2023, letters from the DA granting them authority to import sugar at specified quantities, even when the mandate to authorize sugar importation is with the SRA;
‘’Even more concerningly, SO No.6 even grants unprecedented discretion to the DA to waive the payment of performance bond on grounds that are broad and subject to generous interpretation,’’ she added.