SRA pushes for P85 SRP for sugar

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – The Sugar Regulatory Administration is pushing for an P85 suggested retail price (SRP) for a kilo of sugar amidst complaints that some retailers, particularly in Metro Manila, are still selling at P110 per kilo.

SRA Acting Administrator Paul Azcona on Friday also urged the public to patronize Kadiwa Rolling Stores where sugar is being sold at a much lower price of P70/kilo.

“We have enough sugar supply, thus I do not see any reason why retailers can’t bring their prices down at a much more affordable rate for our consumers,” Azcona said.

He explained that mill gate prices are averaging P60/kilo and compounded with the cost of refining sugar, hauling, repacking, and retailing, “everyone is profiting enough to make it available to the consuming public at P85/kilo.”

Azcona acknowledged that SRA has no powers to enforce the SRP and is urging other government agencies, particularly the local government units, to implement such.

Meanwhile, Azcona said that most, if not all mills, have closed their doors and they are in the process of collating domestic production to determine the amount of sugar that needs to be imported to serve as a buffer in the event that the planned re-opening of the milling season will be moved to the proper start of the new crop which is September 1 to increase productivity.

The constant move to mill earlier than September has led to a constant decrease in yield, as immature cane is milled.

“Some sugar mills ended their operation early because they lack bagasse to power their mills, caused by weather conditions. With this new development, we are studying closely if delaying the next milling season will help our production before we make the necessary recommendations,” he added.

Azcona said that he has been doing rounds of consulting with various sugar stakeholders to prepare for the next crop year.