THE proposal to import around 150,000 metric tons of sugar in the country has been agreed upon during President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr’s meeting with stakeholders, Malacañang said Thursday.
Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said the proposed sugar imports would be needed by industry players in commercial quantities.
Asked if the Palace confirms the agreement to import 150,000 metric tons of sugar, she said, “Iyan po ang proposed na quantity for importation gawa nga ng pangangailangan ng mga industrials na tinatawag ng ating Pangulo.”
“Some jobs are dependent on their continued production. So, yes po, kino-confirm natin na iyon ang proposed amount – 150,000 metric tons,” she added.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday night said during Marcos’ consultation with farmers, millers, sugar workers and refiners in Malacañang, they reached a “consensus” to import 150,000 metric tons of sugar based on “data on the remaining demand.”
This is half of what the Sugar Regulatory Administration’s (SRA) canceled resolution that aimed to import around 300,000 metric tons, an idea that Marcos disapproved of according to Malacañang.
The illegal approval led to the resignation of 3 key officials from the SRA in the past week. They are currently being investigated.
“There were other initiatives recommended to the President to ease the increase of sugar prices but we will let the President make the announcement at the proper time,” said Zubiri in a Facebook post.
“What is important is that all the stakeholders came together to propose concrete short term and long term solutions on the sugar situation. Looking for the ‘sweet spot; between producers and consumers,” he added.
Cruz-Angeles said there was no information yet regarding when this would be imported.
Marcos, during his vlog over the weekend, said government plans to start sugar imports by October to keep prices steady.
