Bacolod City gov’t wants larger sugar allocation

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BACOLOD CITY — Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez of this city on Monday, April 3, announced he will ask the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) for a larger allocation of sugar to be sold at affordable rates here.

He said the sale of affordable sugar, which will eventually expand to other food products, will benefit residents and also help bring down the country’s inflation rate.

The Bacolod City government launched the SRA-DA Sugar Program through the City Cooperative and Livelihood Development Office (CCLDO) at the Bacolod City Government Center on Monday morning,

The allocated 500 kilos was sold out by 10:30 a.m., said CCLDO head Brenda Burdeos.

Sugar was sold at P70 a kilo with each buyer allowed to purchase up to 2 kilos per household.

Burdeos said refined white sugar sells at about P112 per kilo at commercial outlets.

Benitez said the sugar provided by the SRA did not come from seized smuggled sugar but from the Victorias Milling Company.

READ: Agri groups vs sugar import glut decry smuggling

The mayor said the sale will not be limited to affordable sugar but will eventually cascade down to other food products, including rice.

“We all know that inflation is caused by high food prices. To control inflation, we have to make sure that the prices of food do not go up,” he said.

The affordable food products will be sold at Kadiwa stores at the Libertad, Burgos, and Central markets, Burdeos said.

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