Negros Occidental lawmaker urges SRA transparency

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Negros Occidental Fifth District Representative Atty. Dino Yulo has called on the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to be transparent in all its actions, particularly regarding sugar exports and imports.

Yulo urged the SRA to clearly explain the rationale behind its decision to export 25,300 metric tons of raw sugar to the United States while also planning to import 200,000 metric tons of refined sugar.

“I think they just need to be transparent about everything so we can ease any concerns regarding the situation,” Yulo said during an interview last Wednesday, following a memorandum of agreement signing with the Rotary Club of Bacolod Central and the Philippine Dental Association Negros Occidental Chapter for Project Smile.

He also stressed the importance of ensuring an adequate supply of sugar in the domestic market.

“At this point in time, we need to make sure we have enough supply,” Yulo added.

On Tuesday, 25,300 metric tons of raw sugar were loaded onto the cargo vessel Tate J, which departed from BREDCO Port in Bacolod City, bound for the United States.

SRA’s Sugar Order No. 3 allows the Philippines to fulfill its U.S. quota allocation of 25,300 metric tons of sugar, marking the first sugar export this year, in order to participate in future import programs.

SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona explained that this move would help balance the country’s raw sugar supply as milling operations begin this month.

Regarding sugar exportation, Yulo, a former SRA board member, said, “At this present time, we should be prioritizing our local sugar supply to ensure sufficiency. Let’s focus on keeping our sugar for the domestic market, particularly for Sugar Order No. 1.”

Under Sugar Order No. 1 (S-2023-2024), the SRA expects sugar production to reach approximately 1.85 million metric tons, which will be designated by milling companies as “B” sugar, reserved for the domestic market.