Palace, industry stakeholders agree on proposed 150,000 MT sugar import

MANILA, Philippines — The Palace and sugar industry stakeholders have agreed on the proposed importation of 150,000 metric tons of sugar due to supply concerns in the country.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles on Thursday said this was discussed during a meeting between President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and sugar industry stakeholders on Wednesday night.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, also present during the meeting, earlier disclosed that the consensus was to import only 150,000 metric tons of sugar.

“’Yun po ang proposed quantity for importation gawa nga ng pangangailangan ng mga industrials na tinatawag ng ating Pangulo, sila po ang gumagamit in commercial quantities… and some jobs are dependent on their continued production,” Cruz-Angeles said.

(That was the proposed quantity of importation for the industrials’ needs—or those using sugar in commercial quantities. Some jobs are dependent on their continued production.)

“So yes po, kino-confirm natin na yun ang proposed amount, 150,000 metric tons (So yes, we are confirming that the proposed amount was 150,000 metric tons),” she added.

Cruz-Angeles said there is no information yet as to when the importation will happen.

Marcos earlier said the Philippines might import sugar around October should the supply be depleted. The President, however, stressed that the volume would be smaller than the proposed 300,000 metric tons of sugar he rejected earlier.

/MUF/abc