Philippines : SRA denies sugar import liberalization claims
Sugar Regulatory Administrator Pablo Azcona dismissed claims that sugar import liberalization threatens industry collapse, calling them misinformation. He urged accuracy, denied any current liberalization scheme, and challenged critics to present proof, warning that unverified statements could further destabilize the already volatile sugar market.
Sugar Regulatory Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona made the statement on Sunday, Jan. 11, in response to allegations made by Save the Sugar Industry Movement (SAVE-SIM) convenor Wennie Sancho, who warned the sugar industry may collapse if an import liberalization scheme is pursued.
Azcona said he does not know where Sancho got his information, describing it as misinformation or “probably just a figment of his imagination.”
He cautioned Sancho and others to be more accurate in their statements, noting that unverified claims could further agitate an already volatile sugar market.
“We in SRA have been prudent in our pronouncements, especially as there are already so-called sugar leaders who have sabotaged our efforts to mitigate the drop in sugar prices,” Azcona said.
“Yet here is Sancho, who never even bothered to get accurate information from SRA, issuing negative statements that further fuel an already hurting sugar industry,” Azcona lamented.
Although he said he did not initially want to dignify Sancho’s claims, Azcona noted that several industry stakeholders urged him to respond after the allegations were published in the news without verification.
Sancho earlier raised concerns about the supposed “unrestricted entry of imported and subsidized sugar.”
In response, Azcona challenged him to present concrete proof of such claims, adding that SRA would welcome a comprehensive review should any sugar liberalization scheme truly exist.
“The last liberalization move was in 2016 or thereabouts, and the industry fought it squarely, so it did not happen. This is a thing of the past,” Azcona said.
He added, “It is clear this person thrives on misinformation and destabilization.”
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Source : Daily Guardian
