By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
THE HULLABALOO in the sugar industry is turning into a comedy skit. With the daily confusing updates, ordinary Filipinos can’t really help but exclaim, “Tultol teka!” (Come on).
Malacaňang on Aug. 18 said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (BBM) approved the importation of 150,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar. The decision, stressed by Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, was based on the demand of the local manufacturers.
“They’re the ones who use commercial quantities and some jobs are dependent on their continued production. So, yes, we are confirming such proposed 150,000 MT,” she said.
Two days after, Malacaňang declared the sugar crisis as “artificial” due to hoarding.
Angeles said officials discovered thousands of tons of sugar stored in various warehouses in Luzon.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported a total of 214,000 bags of sugar equivalent to 10,700 metric tons (MT) after inspecting sugar warehouses in Caloocan City, Manila, Pangasinan, Pampangga, Batangas, and Davao.
Then, there’s an additional of 140,000 bags or 7,000 MT of sugar found at the Subic Freeport.
Another 60,000 bags of refined sugar from Thailand were also seized from four warehouses in Guiginto, Bulacan, per the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS).
The following day a Coke plant in Davao City shutdown due to lack of graded sugar. And Coca Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI), owner of Coke plants all over the country, enunciated that the food and beverage (F&B) industry in the country needs at least 450,000 MT of premium sugar ‘till December of this year.
“We’d like to emphasize, however, that not all sugar is the same. Food and beverage manufacturers need premium refined sugar to maintain high-quality products,” the CCBPI explained.
“Currently, there is approximately a 400,000 MT gap on top of a starting gap of 200,000 MT of the local sugar supply for 2022. This is based on a projected demand of 2.3 million metric tons for 2022 for the entire country,” it added.
Gosh!
‘PER KILO PROPAGANDA’
To appease irate Filipinos over the skyrocketing prices of sugar, Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez announced last week that SM Malls, Robinsons Supermarkets and Puregold agreed to sell refined sugar at P70/kilo.
Then, there’s this matching quotable quote: “This is a classic display of the indomitable Filipino spirit of ‘bayanihan’ and love of country.”
But over the weekend, there’s confusion in Negros and Bacolod since the price of refined sugar remained at P100 to P106/kilo in leading supermarkets.
So, the Big 3 – SM, Robinsons and Puregold – clarified on national television that the P70/kilo of refined sugar is only good for their Metro Manila stores and other key areas in Luzon.
And the “funny” rejoinder on this “per kilo propaganda” of Rodriguez is, “until supply lasts.”
In the Visayas, Rodriguez also said the LucioTan-led Victorias Milling Company (VMC) in Victorias City, Negros Occidental promised to allot 500,000 kilos of sugar for consignment in Kadiwa stores in the populated areas.
Is that so? But where are these Kadiwa stores per town and city?
‘DON’T BE PICKY’
But here’s another mix-up. United Sugar Producers’ Federation (UNIFED) president Manuel Lamata, in a press statement, asked the BOC to also check the sugar warehouses and mills in Bukidnon and Negros.
On a serious note, he said, “The government should start the inventory in two big mills in Bukidnon. Authorities will be surprised to discover large volumes of sugar.”
In a radio interview, he also asked BOC not to be “picky”.
Coffee aficionados in Bacolod malls, of course, were shocked with Lamata’s statement.
“To whom it may concern?” they asked.
Are there “sugar smugglers” in Bukidnon and Negros?
Bukidnon is “Zubiri Country” when we talk about sugar.
And Senate President Migz Zubiri was vociferous about the alleged kickback and “tongpats” on sugar importation.
Negros, on the other hand, is “home to sugar barons” like Lamata.
So, is there a spat in the bloc?
Intriguing!
‘BATMAN’
As usual, Negros and Panay sugar planters belonging to the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters, Inc. (NFSP), Confederation of Sugar Producers Association, Inc. (CONFED) and Panay Federation of Sugarcane farmers, Inc. (PANAYFED) vowed all-out support to the newly-designated Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) executives. These include David John Thaddeus Alba as SRA administrator and Pablo Luis Azcona and Ma. Mitzi Mangwag as directors of the SRA Board, representing the planters and millers groups, respectively.
Does Alba, president of the Associacion de Agricultores de La Carlota y Pontevedra, have the fortitude to unite the “bratty” Negros’s planters? Will he be “Batman” of SRA? And can he immediately find his “Robin” at the agency?
If he can, then their very first mission: lower down the sugar prices as soon as possible.
If not, “Black Mask” with “Deadshot”, “Catwoman” and “Harley Quinn” will surely thrive anew at the SRA.
Forgive me, but, somehow, that’s my “out-of-the- world” imagination about the SRA. Because it is public knowledge that SRA always serves as the canvas for the “wrestling of pride” of the “mighty people”.
Thus, someone who wants to lead this agency must have an “ironclad” personality else he or she will end up like a “puny” one.
Likewise, it’s my fervent hope that the current sugar brouhaha may conclude soonest. To import or not to import, ordinary people don’t care. What’s important is the price of sugar to be lowered.
Worse is if all the bottling companies like the Coke plant in Davao will temporarily close due to sugar lack. Job loss will definitely be a headache.
The sugar issue ain’t an ordinary one./PN
