Senate blue ribbon panel urged to probe sugar shipments sans sugar order

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday called on the Senate blue ribbon committee to investigate the illegal sugar shipments in the country.

Hontiveros lodged Senate Resolution No. 497 as she exposed what she called a “government-sponsored” sugar smuggling, noting that the sweeteners arrived before the approval of Sugar Order No. 6, which authorizes the importation of 440,000 metric tons of refined sugar.

“There is a need to investigate exactly how sugar shipments were allowed entry into our ports absent a Sugar Order and to identify gaps in policy that need to be addressed in order to effectively curtail agricultural smuggling, and smuggling of regulated commodities like sugar,” the resolution read.

“At a time of high prices and sugar shortages, it is imperative to review policies that allow the favoring of powerful players and importers and create virtual monopolies on basic commodities,” the resolution further stated.

Hontiveros also said that the Senate should recommend charges against individuals who may be involved in the fiasco.

Citing reports, the opposition senator said that 260 20-foot containers of sugar arrived in the port of Batangas on February 9.

However, based on the processing timeline, the earliest possible date that imported refined sugar will enter the country under Sugar Order No. 6 is March 1.

Hontiveros also pointed out that several players in the sugar industry flagged equity and fairness concerns in the order, such as the unrestricted volume allocation and three favored importers.

gsg/abc