No sugar importation until milling season is over — DA

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said over the weekend that sugar importation will not begin until June next year when the quantity of imported sugar to stabilize the local supply would have been ascertained.

Agriculture Secretary Edgardo Angara made this announcement after receiving an assurance from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) an agency attached to the DA, and in the wake of queries from sugar planters who fear a downturn in sugar prices once imported sugar enters the local market.

Sugar planters earlier voiced concern over reports that the country will import 300,000 metric tons of sugar given the low production forecast next year.

However, SRA Administrator Nicolas Alonso assured the DA that there will be no importation while the milling season is going on.

"Definitely, the problem of sugar supply will only be addressed after June 2001," he added.

Alonso said the SRA will have to ascertain the production for this year and the estimated domestic consumption before coming up with the quantity of sugar imports. Moreover, about 137,000 metric tons – representing the country’s sugar quota commitments to the United States under the World Trade Organization – will have to be factored in to determine the volume of imports.

"By June next year, we will already have these figures and it is only then that we will decide, in consultation with the planters and Millers, as to the quantity of sugar that should be imported to stabilize the sugar supply, if any is needed," Alonso said.

He added that it is "premature at this point (to) entertain any question or decision as to the quantity of imported sugar that will be involved."

Earlier, Enrique Rojas, president of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters, Inc., said he was besieged with questions from NFSP members after news of sugar importation came out in the newspapers.

He said he discussed the issue of importation with Alonso late last week "so that sugar producers could have peace of mind."

Meanwhile, the SRA announced that a "sugar summit" will be held on Nov. 16 at the SRA conference hall in Quezon City to address the declining prices of raw sugar. Representatives of government agencies, sugar millers, producers, traders and all other major players in the industry have been invited to the conference.