The volume of sugar under Manila’s latest import program has not yet been allocated to traders as the government is still processing their applications, according to a member of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) board.
SRA board member Pablo Luis Azcona on Wednesday told reporters that the SRA is still in the process of accepting applications as per the guidelines of Sugar Order (SO) 6.
Under SO 6, which authorized the importation of 440,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar, the SRA will accept applications for 5 calendar days upon the effectivity of the order or until February 24.
Azcona said the SRA has not received any requests from the Customs bureau for sugar shipments that entered the country.
Under existing rules and regulations, all imported sugar stocks require clearance from the SRA prior to release by Customs officials.
Azcona made pronouncement after Sen. Risa Hontiveros raised questions about SO 6, particularly the allocation of the import volume.
Hontiveros claimed that internal letters between agriculture and sugar officials indicated that the 440,000 MT have already been divided among three importers even prior to the approval of SO 6.
Meanwhile, sugarcane planters’ groups on Wednesday urged Congress to investigate the alleged arrival of some 5,000 MT of sugar at the Batangas port.
The groups lamented that the shipments entered the country before SO 6 was issued by the SRA board. The groups include the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters Inc., Confederation of Sugar Producers Association Inc., Philippine Sugar Millers Association, and Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers Inc.
The BusinessMirror reported last week that President Marcos Jr. will have the final say on the sugar allocation of every eligible importer under the latest importation program of the national program, based on SO 6.
SO 6 stipulated that the allocation per importer will need the approval of the Department of Agriculture, which is headed by Mr. Marcos.
The allocation per importer under the latest round of importation would be based on the recommendation of the SRA board.
In the previous sugar import programs, the SRA board capped the volume per importer or gave prorated allocations to each eligible member.
“The volume allocated to an eligible importer shall be that as recommended by the SRA board and approved by the Department of Agriculture,” Section 5 of SO 6 read.
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