By JED MACAPAGAL and JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR
Government rolling stores will start selling this month sugar seized in anti-smuggling operations at P70 per kilogram.
This developed as President Marcos Jr. assured the public there is no rice crisis in the country.
The President, in a chance interview in Bulacan, said the country is set to harvest rice soon and can always import if supply is not enough.
“I don’t foresee a rice crisis. There is a chance supply will be thin. We are watching and waiting to see what the production levels are going to be after the last planting season before the harvest, for the upcoming harvest. We may have to import. We’re keeping that option open,” he said.
The Federation of Free Farmers warned of a possible deficiency in rice supply during the lean months, or starting July, which could lead to higher prices.
The President said the country has enough supply of rice albeit only a buffer stock of 1.5 days instead of the more ideal nine days.
Marcos, however, acknowledged if a strong typhoon hits the country now, the buffer supply could be wiped out in three days.
The President was in Bulacan yesterday and led the launch of a Kadiwa ng Pangulo outlet in San Jose del Monte.
Meanwhile, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) yesterday said seized smuggled sugar from recent raids are expected to be sold through Kadiwa stores at P70 per kg starting this month.
Pablo Azcona, SRA planters’ representative, said in a briefing amendments to an internal document were approved this week which will allow the utilization of seized sugar totaling 4,000 metric tons (MT) or around 80,000 bags (refined) for public consumption.
SRA said consultative meetings were also conducted with stakeholders for the suggested retail price on sugar at possibly P85 per kg.
SRA said El Niño may cause 10 to 15 percent production losses for next year if no interventions are done.
Measures being prepared include the possible provision of pumps and irrigation equipment for farms that have access to water and cloud seeding operations for places that has no access to water.
Based on DA’s monitoring of public markets in the National Capital Region, prevailing retail price as of yesterday ranges from P86 to P110 per kg for refined sugar, P80 to P95 per kg for washed sugar and P78 to P95 per kg for brown sugar.
SRA millsite monitoring showed that composite price of raw sugar as of April 9 was 3,080.10 per 50 kg bag.
