Villar: Senate to conduct hearing on rising prices of sugar

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The Senate committee on agriculture and food, chaired by Senator Cynthia Villar, will hold a committee hearing this month to look into complaints of food processors and common consumers against the rising prices of sugar.

Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) board member Dino Yulo admitted that they received reports of sugar smuggling, because of the increase in sugar prices that have hit P64 to P68 per kilo in supermarkets, which he admitted are “way above ideal conditions.”

Villar, who was with Yulo in her visit to Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental, said food processors are requesting that importation of sugar should be direct to users. That is why, she said, she wants to hear the side of the sugar stakeholders.

Through the committee hearing, Villar said issues and concerns over the price of sugar will be clarified.

Yulo said the price of sugar remains at P2,000 per bag, which he said appears to be good as of this time. “But we do not want a too high price for the comfort level of everybody,” he said.

"What is sad is that the high price of sugar in the markets is being blamed on producers. As of this time, it is no longer in the hands of producers," he said.

Yulo noted that before, if there were talks of sugar importation, prices of sugar went down. Now that we have imported 2,000 metric tons of sugar, which is now in the ports, there is no downward movement in the price of sugar, he added.

“While the increase of sugar prices may be advantageous to producers in the short term, we do not know the long term effects, and this is something we need to address,” said Yulo.

To help address the increase in the prices of sugar in the markets, Yulo encouraged importers to distribute all the imported sugar as soon as possible, and also called on wholesalers to curb the increase in prices.

Yulo added he is also hoping that sugar mills will start the milling season early.