SUGAR REGULATORY ADMINISTRATION

The program, which will be supervised by the SRA, can be extended if warranted, upon the agreement of the parties involved.  

Signing the MOA during simple rites held at the Planters Product Inc. in Makati were SRA Deputy Administrator Aida F. Ignacio, NFA Deputy Administrator Pedro S. Hernando, Philsucor Officer-In-Charge Julie L. Estante, and Bernard C. Trebol, Confed Trustee. DA Secretary Arthur C. Yap, who witnessed the signing, said that some 1,190 Tindahan Natin outlets and 30 government rolling stores in Metro Manila will sell NFA sugar.

For the first week of program implementation, Yap said, “an initial 4,000 bags of sugar will be made available to Tindahan Natin outlets and NFA rolling stores.  Philsucor has committed under this MOA to finance the supply of around 10,000 bags of sugar, which is equivalent to 500,000 kilos, to help keep sugar prices stable”.  

“With this  “Abot Kayang Asukal Para sa Mamamayan” program in place, we can expect sugar prices to return to their previous levels of P36 to P38 a kilo, in the next few days,” Yap said. “Our consumers can now be assured of more affordable sugar this coming holiday season.”  

Last month, Yap ordered the SRA to release its sugar reserves to the domestic market to keep the supply and prices of sugar stable, following reports that the rainy season had cut back production of this commodity during the start of the crop year by as much as 40%.  

In his directive to the SRA, Yap ordered the release of  Class “C” or reserve  sugar to the domestic market and the reduction of its allocation for sugar exports to meet local requirements while at the same time taking into account the needs of local food exporters.  
The SRA classifies sugar into “A,” or sugar for export to the U.S. to meet the country’s sugar quota, “B” for domestic consumption,   “C” for reserves and “D” for exports to the world market which is also made available to food processors as “E” sugar.

Yap noted that while the millgate price of sugar has already dropped, retail prices in Metro Manila have remained at the high level of P40 a kilo over the past month.  

Under the “Abot Kayang Asukal Para sa Mamamayan” program, the NFA will sell refined sugar not exceeding P36 a kilo, in 1-kilogram bags with the NFA label, but will disallow single purchases exceeding 5 kilos.  
  
Under the MOA, the SRA will facilitate and coordinate the supply of sugar in Metro Manila; negotiate with the sugar producers the price per 50-kilo bag of the commodity to be delivered to NFA warehouses; designate representatives to attest the deliveries made to NFA warehouses in Metro Manila and notify PHILSUCOR and NFA accordingly; and monitor the implementation of, and compliance with, the program.  

As stated in the MOA, Philsucor will directly pay to the sugar producers the amount corresponding to the price and quantity of sugar delivered to NFA warehouses, on a door-to-door basis upon the submission of duly acknowledged delivery receipts signed by authorized representatives of the SRA and NFA; 

The Philsucor will issue a billing statement to NFA – NCR district offices for sugar deliveries made to NFA warehouses in Metro Manila.  

Shipments of sugar will be supplied by First Farmers Planters Association through Dos Hermanas Multipurpose Cooperative (7,200 bags) and the VMC Farmers’ Cooperative Inc. (2,800 bags), both CONFED members from Negros Occidental, the country’s major sugar-producing province.