PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has rejected the proposed importation of 300,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar due to the diminishing supply in the country that resulted in the increase of its prices, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said Wednesday, August 10, 2022.

"The President rejected the proposal to import an additional 300,000 MT of sugar. He is the chairman of the Sugar Regulatory Board and denied this in no uncertain terms," Cruz-Angeles said.

Earlier, Agriculture Undersecretary and spokesperson Kristine Evangelista said the proposal stemmed from the shortage in supply following the onslaught of Typhoon Odette (Rai) in December 2021, particularly on the sugarcane crops in the affected areas.

At present, the prevailing price of sugar is at P90 per kilo, but some markets are selling it at P120 to P150 per kilo.

Meanwhile, farmer’s group Sinag, which earlier met with Marcos to discuss several issues, lauded the President’s decision, noting that sugar farmers are already starting to harvest.

"It is high time for the Sugar Regulatory Board and the Department of Agriculture to support our local producers," Sinag executive director Jayson Cainglet said in a statement.

"We should not go back to the previous practice of importing at first instance. We should import only what is needed and upon the explicit approval of the local industry," he added. (SunStar Philippines)