The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) expects local sugar production to increase by 5 percent for crop year 2022-2023 to 1.88 million metric tons (MT) from 1.79 million MT in the previous crop year ending August this year, the agency said in Sugar Order 1 (SO1).
The amount is short to serve the expected 2.03 million MT withdrawal for the period and may be the basis of a future decision to allow the entry of imported sugar supply to augment local stocks.
The SO1 dated August 26 but was released only yesterday, also allocates 100 percent of local production of sugar for domestic consumption.
However, the SO made no mention of importation plans.
SO1 was signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as concurrent SRA chairperson and Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary and DA undersecretary Domingo Panganiban; acting SRA administrator David Alba; acting SRA millers’ representative Mitzi Mangwag; and acting SRA planters’ representative Pablo Azocona .
Alba earlier said the 41 percent increase in SRA’s proposed budget for next year will help fund research and development programs and support services for small farmers, especially for block farms.
Alba said these programs will increase the country’s sugar productivity towards l 2.5 million MT annually. – Jed Macapagal
