PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he is looking at importing 150,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar by October, when the country’s stock of sweetener is already low.
Marcos, the concurrent secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), said in his weekly vlog that there is no immediate need to import sugar as the country still has enough supply for now.
“Maari bandang Oktubre, baka ‘yung supply na nandito sa Pilipinas ay paubos na, baka sakali ay kailangan nating mag-import, pero kakaunti lang,” he said.
“Hindi kasing dami ng kanilang sinasabi dati na 300,000 metric tons. Siguro malaki na ‘yung 150,000 metric tons, para sa buong taon na ito, kaya sa aking palagay nabawasan natin nang mabuti ang importation ng sugar,” he added.
Marcos said the government is carefully calculating to avoid over importation not only in sugar but also in seedlings, rice and feed weed, which the country also plans to import in order to protect the local producers, especially the farmers.
Earlier, the Sugar Regulator Board (SRB) issued an order allowing the importation of 300,000 MT of sugar.
The Malacañang deemed the order “illegal,” noting that it was not approved by Marcos who serves as the board’s chairman.
Marcos ordered the conduct of investigation on the matter.
DA undersecretary for operations and chief of staff of the Secretary of Agriculture Leocadio Sebastian and SRB member lawyer Roland Beltran, who were both signatories of the order resigned from their posts.
In his resignation letter, Sebastian apologized to Marcos for approving the order on his behalf.
"It has become clear that the same was not in keeping with your administration's desired direction for the sugar industry. I take accountability and responsibility for its consequences," he added.
Marcos said as the secretary of the DA, he aims to put the agency’s system in order to ensure that farmers are properly earning, to secure the country’s food supply and to provide affordable food for the Filipino people to address hunger. (SunStar Philippines)