CALLING it a triumph, the United Sugar Producers Federation (Unifed) has welcomed the issuance of the Writ of Preliminary Injunction instructing the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to cease and desist from implementing Sugar Order 3 (SO3), which provides for the importation of 200,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar intended for industrial users.
In a six-page decision, Executive Judge Reginald Fuentebella of the Regional Trial Court Branch 73 based in Sagay City, Negros Occidental said that “status quo” must be maintained until the case is terminated, unless earlier lifted or upon orders of the court.
Unifed President Manuel Lamata, in a statement Monday, February 28, said this is a “victory” on their part.
Unifed, one of the biggest sugar federations in the country, thanked the courts “for seeing their side of the argument.”
“This decision just affirms that the industry was right and the SRA was wrong,” Lamata said.
Unifed Director Joseph Edgar Sarrosa also welcomed the court’s decision and thanked those who supported their cause.
Sarrora earlier filed the case against the SRA on behalf of the Rural Sugar Planters Association Inc., which is a member-association of the Unifed.
“We are not against importation per se but we have been pushing for proper consultation and a calibrated importation program which is beneficial to all and not just for a particular sector,” he said.
Unifed made a strong stand against the sugar order believing that it lacked consultation and the planned importation is “ill-timed” as the milling season is still at its peak.
Pronouncements on the issuance of SO3 led to a huge drop in sugar prices, prompting the sugar group to file a temporary restraining order against it, the group added. (With PR)