THE Department of Agriculture (DA) directed the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to clear the release of imported sugar by three of its “handpicked” importers.
In an internal memorandum obtained by the media, DA senior undersecretary Domingo Panganiban instructed SRA administrator David Alba to issue clearances to the warehouses of the three importers.
This includes All Asian Countertrade Inc., Edison Lee Marketing Corporation and S&D Sucden Philippines.
“Considering the allocations under Sugar Order Number 6, Series 2022-2023 had been duly awarded, you may now issue the Clearances for Release of imported sugar,” read part of the memo.
This development means the recent sugar import program was allocated to just these three importers.
Panganiban also said this includes the “controversial” sugar that already arrived in the country, which is part of the shipment allocated to All Asian Countertrade Inc.
However, this doesn’t mean the sugar imports can now be sold in markets.
Sugar arriving in the country is automatically classified as reserve sugar and has to be reclassified by the SRA before being cleared for retail.
The DA and SRA met controversy last week when Sen. Risa Hontiveros exposed alleged anomalies in the recent sugar import program.
The senator earlier said with these anomalies, DA is enabling large-scale state-sanctioned agricultural smuggling.
Panganiban earlier explained in Palace media while he indeed expedited the import process, this was upon the instruction of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (ABS-CBN News)
