Sugar Order No. 2 signed by Marcos authorizes importation of 150,000 MT

The Sugar Regulatory Administration has issued Sugar Order No. 2 detailing the sugar import program for the crop year 2022 to 2023 and setting the maximum volume at 150,000 metric tons of refined sugar.

According to a copy of the order posted on the SRA website and signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as secretary of the Department of Agriculture and chairman of the SRA board, 75,000 metric tons will be allocated to industrial users.

The other 75,000 metric tons will be for consumers.

Malacañang on Wednesday confirmed the issuance of SO 2.

"Confirmed po," Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles told GMA News Online.

SO 2 mandates that sugar traders participating in the import program shall ensure that their respective allocated volumes shall arrive in the Philippines not later than November 15, 2022.

Each participant shall be given one month from November 15 to completely distribute their allocations to respective clients for industrial use and/or direct consumption and and submit to SRA within 30 calendar days written proof of compliance to the said actual distribution.

According to acting SRA Administrator David John Alba, the Sugar Board passed the importation program to serve both the industrial users and consumers.

"This import program is just a stop gap measure because we expect supply from the mills to flow into the market as refineries are expected to be in full operation by next month," he said.

According to Alba, some sugar mills have already started milling.

"We will soon see a steady supply of sugar," he said. "Nevertheless, SRA is regularly monitoring the supply and demand situation so we can act accordingly.  —with Anna Felicia Bajo and Ted Cordero/NB/KBK, GMA News