Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri Joseph Vidal/Senate PRIB)
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri on Thursday called for a Senate investigation into the move of the government to import up to 200,000 metric tons of sugar amid the prevailing harvest season, as he expressed concern over the detrimental effects of the the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) “proimport” policies on Filipino farmers. Zubiri questioned the decision of the DA, through the Sugar Regulatory Administration to import sugar, supposedly aimed at stabilizing prices and supply following the devastation of Typhoon “Odette” (international name: Rai) in southern Philippines late last year. He said the DA’s sugar importation program during the harvest and milling season is contrary to its officials’ commitment during the budget deliberation on Nov. 15, 2021, that the agency is not looking to import sugar during the period. He said farmers had been complaining since last year against the “import-dependent” programs of the DA. —MELVIN GASCON