‘Blacklist erring sugar importers’

MANILA, Philippines — If President Marcos is serious about ensuring ample supply of affordable sugar, he should order the immediate seizure of the illegally imported sweeteners and blacklist the erring importers, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said yesterday.

Hontiveros said blacklisting these erring sugar importers would save the government from being repeatedly compelled to deal with the disposal of illegal shipments.

“If the administration is really serious about ensuring ample supply of affordable sugar in the country, then it should start with immediately confiscating the sugar stocks illegally imported into the country by the three ‘favored’ importers – All Asian Countertrade, Edison Lee Marketing and Sucden Philippines,” Hontiveros said.

She said the Bureau of Customs (BOC) has confirmed that the first 20 containers of sugar imported by All Asian have arrived in the country even before a sugar order could be signed.

Hontiveros said government authorities are too excited about the 12,000 metric tons of sugar seized in Subic and Batangas.

Marcos has approved the sale of the confiscated sugar in Kadiwa centers at P70 per kilo, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Tuesday.

The President also ordered the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to coordinate with the BOC and other government agencies to ensure that the sugar has passed the food safety act and other regulations.

The price of refined sugar in the market ranges between P86 and P110 per kilo.

Hontiveros said the Philippines’ annual consumption of sugar is 2.2 million metric tons.

“If the sugar to be sold in Kadiwa stores is meant to be consumed by the poorest 30 percent of the population, then we need at least 300,000 metric tons of sugar to ensure that the supply for sale will not just be for publicity purposes,” Hontiveros said.

She said if the government is committed to selling the smuggled sugar, this should be sold at regular profit rates of P61 per kilo instead of P70.

“The stocks are already smuggled, and yet these are to be sold at jacked-up profits? Somebody is really intent on profiting from this situation,” Hontiveros said.

The DA is planning to sell the seized sugar in Kadiwa centers next month.

Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista, spokesperson for the DA, said they are preparing the implementing rules and regulations for the sale of the confiscated sugar.

During yesterday’s session, Sen. Francis Tolentino addressed concerns about the Senate Blue Ribbon committee’s inaction on the alleged anomalous sugar importation.

Meanwhile, Malacañang justified its decision allowing the sale of seized smuggled sugar in Kadiwa outlets, saying the sugar industry and farmers will suffer losses if the commodity is distributed for free.

In a memorandum dated March 3, the Office of the President approved a recommendation to donate some 4,000 metric tons of confiscated sugar to the DA.

The smuggled sweeteners have an estimated value of P240 million.

The memorandum, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, directed the DA and SRA to coordinate closely with BOC and other relevant agencies to ensure that food safety and other regulatory requirements as well as applicable accounting and auditing laws, rules and regulations are complied with.

The PCO said that under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, seized smuggled agricultural products could be donated to other government agencies.

As this developed, SRA chief David John Thaddeus Alba has “not yet” resigned from the post amid allegations of government sponsored sugar smuggling as claimed by Hontiveros.

Sources within the sugar industry said that Alba’s resignation has not been officially acted upon by Malacañang.

Alba reportedly decided to quit as SRA chief due to “pressure from above,” Senate hearing on sugar smuggling and the Sugar Order 6, which allowed the importation of 440,000 metric tons of sugar.

Hontiveros earlier urged the Senate Blue Ribbon panel to investigate what she described as “government-sponsored” sugar smuggling. – Alexis Romero, Romina Cabrera, Gilbert Bayoran