BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental’s Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he does not believe there is a sugar crisis in the country amid reports of an impending shortage in supply and soaring retail prices.
“Remember this, the industry should be guided,” he told reporters.
Negros Occidental, the Philippines’ top sugar-producing province, contributes almost 60 percent to the country’s sugar output.
If there is a need to import, the volume can be decided on, making sure that there will be no shortage now or in the future, and also the timing should be determined on when the sugar should come in, Lacson pointed out.
But the governor said there is also a need to be vigilant, considering that “when there is importation, there is a tendency for smuggling”.
“With these three guidelines, we will always be in a stable situation. The sugar industry never said we are against importation totally. It’s just that we have to agree on the volume, the timing when it comes in, and of course, let’s watch out for possible smuggling,” said Lacson.
“There is no quarrel with that (importation). It’s just that there are also sugar leaders who are saying the importation is okay, but it should be refined not just raw sugar,” he said.
For now, the governor said retail sugar is available in supermarkets, although the prices have gone up.
“It’s just the price, but obviously it’s not us planters whose benefitting from that. It’s always the traders. I guess agencies like the Department of Trade Industry can come in and find out why the prices are like that. Definitely, it’s not the planters who benefitting from these very high prices,” he said.
In Bacolod, a certain brand of refined sugar is sold for more than P100 per kilo. (PNA/PN)
