(Photo courtesy of DA)
MANILA – The country's current sugar supply is more than enough to sustain existing demands, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Tuesday.
Based on the latest Supply and Demand Situation of the DA-Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), the country has a physical stock of 262,328.30 metric tons (MT) of raw sugar, 448,106.45 MT of refined sugar, and 148,264.29 MT of molasses as of July 16.
Meanwhile, the DA's-Surveillance, Monitoring and Enforcement Group reported that the retail price of sugar in Metro Manila starts at PHP78 per kilo.
As of Monday, the DA said the retail price of refined sugar in Metro Manila markets ranges from PHP78 to PHP110 per kilo depending on the quality of sugar.
It added that the price of washed sugar is from PHP82 to PHP90 per kilo, while a kilo of brown sugar is between PHP78 to PHP90.
On Tuesday, the DA received 4,000 metric tons (MT) of white refined sugar from the Department of Finance – Bureau of Customs (DOF-BOC) to be sold in various Kadiwa markets and stalls.
DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban and Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio signed the deed of donation and acceptance at the BOC main office in Port Area, Manila.
The sugar, which was shipped from Thailand and later rendered as forfeited by the Port of Batangas last April, was cleared for donation and consumption based on the guidelines specified in the DA-Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Memorandum Circular No. 4, series of 2022-2023, as well as the Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
The move is in compliance with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to address the rising prices of basic commodities and ensure food security. (PNA)
