The Sugar Regulatory Administration held in abeyance the importation of 200,000 metric tons of sugar until further notice, after a Temporary Restraining Order was issued by Sagay Regional Trial Court Judge Reginald Fuentebella.
In Memorandum Circular No. 5 issued Feb. 15, SRA administrator Hermenegildo Serafica informed all applicants under Sugar Order Number 3 that the sugar import program for crop year 2021-2022 was temporarily put on hold.
The importation of sugar was supposed to start next month.
The stiff opposition against the importation of the 200,000 metric tons of sugar continues to snowball, with Senator Imee Marcos and Negros Occidental Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer the latest to demand an explanation and transparency from the SRA.
“Why is the SRA so enamored of importation? What vows did manufacturers of sugared products make to get the SRA’s ‘I do’,” Marcos, who chaired the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, asked in a statement she issued.
Ferrer, meanwhile, told Serafica to explain why there is a need to import sugar at the height of the milling season.
Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, who traces his roots to Negros Occidental, already sponsored a resolution directing the Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the SRA order to allow the importation of sugar.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental also passed a resolution expressing its vehement opposition to the sugar importation at the height of the milling season.
To justify the importation order, the SRA cited the sudden spike in the wholesale and retail prices of raw and refined sugar after Typhoon Odette devastated sugar producing areas, including the Negros Island.
United Sugar Producers Federation president Manuel Lamata thanked Zubiri and Marcos for supporting their call to stop the sugar importation.
“We are thankful to our champions in the Senate for their strong stance against the ill-planned sugar importation and for seeking an inquiry into the questionable importation program of the Department of Agriculture and the SRA,” Lamata said in a statement.
Lamata also thanked the Negros Occidental SP for the passage of a resolution objecting the sugar importation order.
“We are very thankful to our provincial officials for supporting our call. They clearly understand that sugar remains as our economic lifeline and anything that affects the industry will have a major impact in our lives here,” Lamata said.
He reiterated his call for the firing of Serafica, saying the latter “has no decency to resign despite everything.” — GB
