Exec strengthens drive vs smuggling
NEW Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) head Ma. Regina Bautista-Martin strengthens campaigns against sugar smuggling.
Martin said the issue on smuggling is a national issue and one of the main concerns of all stakeholders in the sugar industry.
"Everybody's support in every way to solve the problem is very welcome," she said.
Martin paid a courtesy visit to Governor Alfredo Marañon on Monday and sugar smuggling was one of the topics she discussed with the Provincial Government officials.
Martin was accompanied by officials and representatives of different sugar planters federations.
Martin said the anti-smuggling drive will be more effective because of the Bureau of Customs’s support.
The sugar board also authorized the order calling for the continued collection of the P1 per 50-kilo-bag lien on raw sugar to support monitoring and anti-smuggling campaign.
She said among her top priorities is to harness technologies and successfully migrate to an electronic platform system for fast and near real-time sugar monitoring.
Sugar industry leaders also expressed concern that favorable sugar prices may be dampened by the entry of cheaper smuggled sugar.
But Martin assured stakeholders that these activities are now under the tight watch of the BOC and the Sugar Anti-Smuggling Office (Saso).
(Teresa Ellera-Dulla)