Coca-Cola supports sugar importation order

MANILA, Philippines — Beverage firm Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI) welcomed the issuance by President Marcos Jr. of an order allowing the importation of bottler’s grade sugar.

“CCBPI welcomes the issuance of Sugar Order No. 2 (SO) series of 2022-2023 by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. – concurrently the head of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and chair of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) – as well as his administration’s collaborative actions working with the food and beverage manufacturing industry to address the national sugar supply situation,”the company said in a statement yesterday.

Last week, the SRA issued SO 2 which allowed  the importation of 150,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar.

Of the total volume, 75,000 MT have been  allocated for industrial users, while the remaining balance will go  to consumers.

Industrial users, as defined under the order, include food, confectioneries, biscuits, bread, candies, milk, juices and beverage manufacturers that use refined sugar in the manufacture of their finished products for sale exclusively in the domestic market.

“We are grateful to the government for heeding the industry’s call to import bottler’s grade or premium refined sugar. We appreciate the efforts and welcome this step forward as we work across sectors towards a sustainable solution in addressing the country’s sugar situation,” the company said.

“We hope to be able to normalize our bottling operations once we have secured a sufficient supply of bottler’s grade sugar,”it said.
The beverage company also expressed gratitude to consumers who have been patient with the company as it prepares to once again serve its full line-up of beverages.

Last month, three large beverage firms in the country, including CCBPI, confirmed a shortage of sugar it uses for its products.