Philippine’s : SRA chief debunks claims of sugar oversupply
The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) dismissed claims from various sugar producer groups that oversupply led to a decrease in millgate prices. SRA Administrator Pablo Azcona clarified that the government’s decision to delay sugar imports until mid-2025 was intended to ensure transparency and inform stakeholders, not to manipulate prices. Azcona also criticized these groups for spreading misinformation and emphasized that the SRA’s focus is maintaining proper sugar stock levels, despite a 61% decline in production this year
BACOLOD CITY – The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) tagged as malicious the claims of oversupply by some sugar producers that supposedly led to the decrease in millgate prices.
SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona issued a statement on Monday in response to the presumption of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters, Confederation of Sugar Producers Association Inc., and Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers Inc., together with the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry, that the decision of the national government not to import sugar until after post-harvest was to prevent a drop in prices.
“There was no other intention for that announcement, other than to stand by our mandate to be transparent and keep the stakeholders informed,” Azcona said.
On Nov. 10, Azcona and Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. jointly announced that the Philippines will not pursue importation until the middle of next year amid the stable stock levels of raw and refined sugar.
“It was simply an announcement for our stakeholders and nothing more,” the SRA chief said, adding that the three federations which call themselves the Sugar Council, “would have known that if they attended stakeholders’ meetings being called by the DA and the SRA.”
Instead, Azcona said, the groups are “propagating lies through the media to cause separation and instability within the industry.”
“I’ve always reiterated that I am a phone call away. However, they would rather bring their concerns before the media to further destabilize the industry, then send a letter after the fact, and that does not sit well with me,” he added.
Azcona said the opinion of the Sugar Council that the DA and SRA delayed the decision on sugar importation to curb sugar prices was “based on their skewed perception.”
He noted that based on their charter, the SRA has “no hand in marketing and pricing of sugar, and this is known to all sugar stakeholders as well.”
“All of the SRA and DA’s plans are discussed in stakeholder meetings led by Secretary Tiu Laurel, the last of which was Aug. 6, but just like in other instances, the Sugar Council snubbed this meeting,” Azcona said.
He emphasized that “stocks of raw and refined sugar are at the proper levels, maintaining the needed buffers.”
“As of Nov. 10, 2024, our production of sugar is down by 61 percent, and we have prepared for this with the proper buffer supply. As to their claims of oversupply for both raw and refined sugar, we are currently 35 to 37 percent below the levels recorded last year,” Azcona said. (PNA)
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Source Link : PNA
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