- GILBERT BAYORAN
The Sugar Regulatory Administration is pushing for an P85 suggested retail price (SRP) for sugar, amid complaints that some retailers, especially in Metro Manila, are still selling it at P110 per kilo.
SRA acting administrator Paul Azcona also urged the public to patronize Kadiwa rolling stores, where sugar is being sold at a much lower price of P70/kilo.
“We have enough sugar supply, thus, I do not see any reason why retailers can’t bring their prices down at a much affordable rate for our consumers,” Azcona said.
He explained that mill gate prices are averaging P60/kilo; compounded with the cost of refining sugar, hauling, repacking, and retailing, “everyone is profiting enough to make it available to the consuming public at P85/kilo.”
Azcona acknowledged that SRA has no powers to enforce the SRP and is urging other government agencies, and particularly the local government units, to implement the price ceiling.
Meanwhile, Azcona said that most, if not all, mills have closed their doors and they are in the process of collating domestic production to determine the amount of sugar that needs to be imported to serve as buffer.
The buffer stock is needed once the planned re-opening of the milling season will be moved to the proper start of the new crop, which is September 1, to increase productivity, he said.
Milling earlier than September has led to a constant decrease in yield (LKGTC), as immature cane is milled, “to the demise of the farmer, and making us more dependent on imports,” Azcona added.
He noted that some sugar mills ended their operations early because they lack bagasse to power their mills due to weather conditions.
“With this new development, we are studying closely if delaying the next milling season will help our production, before we make the necessary recommendations,” Azcona said.
He said that he has been doing the rounds of consulting with various sugar stakeholders to prepare for the next crop year./GB
