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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Hontiveros asks DA on release of SO No. 6: Why import 440,000 metric tons of sugar?

Hontiveros asks DA on release of SO No. 6: Why import 440,000 metric tons of sugar?

Published Feb 16, 2023 02:34 pm

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday, February 16 questioned the Sugar Regulatory Administration's (SRA) plan to import 440,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar saying the agency should explain why they need such a huge volume.

Hontiveros aired her concern following the reported release of Sugar Order No. 6, sans President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s signature.

"The absence of the signature of the President on Sugar Order No. 6 is probably the least of my questions," Hontiveros said in a statement.

"Andami kong katanungan. Una, (I have so many questions. One), where did they get the volume of 440,000MT when three major federations of sugar producers pushed for only 330,000MT?" the senator pointed out.

"Second, why is the Department of Agriculture (DA) given the discretion of final approval of the volumes to be allocated to importers, when in previous SOs they were pro-rated based on a mechanical computation?" she also asked.

"Pwede bang sabihin ng DA na sa tatlong trader lang, at etsapwera na ang iba kahit sila ay nag-apply at eligible importers naman? Hindi ba ito favoritism at virtual monopoly? (Can the DA say that only to the three traders, and the others are rejected even though they have applied and are eligible importers? Isn't this favoritism and virtual monopoly?)" she pointed out.

Hontiveros also questioned if a Sugar Order can be retroactive and legitimize the entry of imported sugar that arrived before the SO’s issuance.

"Because if we follow the law, imported sugar not covered by a sugar order is technically smuggled. Sino ang nag smuggle? Sino ang nagbasbas (Who smuggled? Who allowed it)?" she said.

"Yan ang mga tanong na mahalaga sa akin into (those are the questions I want to ask) which I will dig deeper," the lawmaker stressed.

SRA Board Member Pablo Azcona said the sugar importation is meant to temper rising prices due to supply-demand shocks.

"We are expecting a projected production of 1.831 million but our demand is a lot more. We feel that the 440,000 MT is just right to cover this year's lack of sugar," Azcona said in an interview.

Related Tags

Department of Agriculture (DA) Risa Hontiveros Sugar importation Sugar Order No. 6
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