BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – A sugar farmers’ group said the farmgate prices of local sugar ranged from P60 to P65 as retail prices of the sweetener remained high at P95 to P110 per kilo.
According to United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines (UNIFED) president Manuel Lamata, sugar producers have no control over the cost of sugar in the wet markets once traders buy their produce.
“Traders finally have a conscience. From P40, they increased the farm gate price to P60 to P65 per kilo, but they dictate the retail prices,” Lamata pointed out.
He added that local millers have already produced more than 200,000 metric tons of sugar.
“The stocks of local sugar are arriving in Manila. Victorias Milling is shipping the supply. If I am not mistaken, the total stocks of new sugar are now pegged at 200,000 metric tons,” Lamata added.
The P70 per kilo of refined sugar is expected to be available at the Kadiwa Centers next week.
“Three days ago, I saw thousands of one-kilo refined sugar at the warehouse of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) in Quezon City, and it is ready for distribution in the Kadiwa Centers,” Lamata said.
The Department of Agriculture said the P70 per kilo of refined sugar will be sold at Kadiwa outlets and SRA offices in Bacolod City and Quezon City./PN
