By Mae Singuay

The United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines (UNIFED) opposes the direct importation of sugar by some beverage companies.

In a public statement, the group appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to deny the request of beverage companies to directly import sugar for their needs.

According to UNIFED President Manual Lamata, he got the requests of the firms to allow industrial users for the “direct import of premium refined sugar.”

Lamata said in a letter addressed to Marcos dated March 22, in his capacity as the Agriculture secretary, the beverage companies complained about sugar supply, high prices and alleged “outright refusal” of traders to “provide price quotes to industrial buyers.”

Part of the letter stated that they urged Marcos to “consider available options” so that the importation would “address the shortage and stabilize prices of domestic sugar” to “prevent future supply crises.”

They also propose that importation be used to create a buffer stock for at least one quarter,” and “prices for imports for sale in the Philippines should be pegged closer to world market price.”

“These beverage companies should buy local sugar because we buy their local products. I hope President Marcos will continue to have his heart and protect the farmers from these greedy companies,” Lamata said.

In their letter, the beverage companies claim they comprise over 90 percent of industrial users and have concerns to present including sugar quality, scarcity and pricing in the country that allegedly threatens their business operations and the livelihoods of tens of thousands of workers.

The UNIFED President said these companies have earned billions of revenues and they can surely protect their workers and their interests for decades to come.

However, allowing them to directly import will not just kill the sugar industry, but kill the millions who are dependent on this industry just so they can further enrich themselves at our expense, he added./MS, WDJ