PAG-IMPORT NG ASUKAL VS INFLATION (Para rin makalikha ng buffer stock-DA exec)

INIHAYAG  ng isang matataas na opisyal ng Department of Agriculture na ang hakbang na mag-import ng humigit-kumulang 450,000 metric tons ng asukal ay upang makontrol ang inflation at lumikha ng buffer stock upang sapat na matugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng bansa.

Sa isang press briefing sa Palasyo ng Malacanang, sinabi ni DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban na kumilos sila sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na agad na tugunan ang inflation dahil sa mga isyu sa supply ng asukal, pag-iimbak, at iba pa.

“In response to the directive of the President to address inflation and create a buffer stock and given that sugar as one of the components of most commodities that drives the consistently high inflation rate, I acted with haste and interpreted the memorandum issued by the Office of the Executive Secretary as an approval to proceed with the importation,” pahayag ni Panganiban sa Malacanang Press Corps.

“With the urgency of the situation, I instructed three capable and accredited companies to proceed with the importation of sugar, provided that they agree to reduce the prices of sugar, sell the commodity in a price that is commercially acceptable in the market, and that they will shoulder the cost of warehousing,” dagdag ng opisyal ng DA.

Sa isang memorandum mula sa opisina ng Executive Secretary na may petsang Enero 13, 2023, inatasan ang DA na ipatupad ang mga rekomendasyon nito kay Pangulong Marcos Jr., na siya ring Kalihim ng Agrikultura, sa 2nd Sugar Import Program para sa taong 2022-2023.

Ang memorandum, na nilagdaan ni Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, humigit-kumulang 100,00 metriko tonelada ng asukal “ay awtomatikong mauuri bilang ‘B’ o Domestic Sugar” habang ang kabuuang 350 metriko tonelada “ay ilalagay sa domestic market.

“Relative thereto, the DA is hereby directed to implement the abovementioned recommendations, to ensure adequate supply of sugar in domestic markets, reduce prices and manage inflation, subject to compliance with Republic Act No. 10659 or the ‘Sugarcane Industry Development Act of 2015’, its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and other relevant laws, rules and regulations,” nakasaad sa memorandum.

Sinabi ni Panganiban na pumili siya sa listahang ibinigay sa kanya ng tatlong sugar importer, na itinuturing niyang “the most capable importers that we have”.

Binanggit ng opisyal ng DA na alam ni Pangulong Marcos at “na-inform nang maayos” nang maihatid sa bansa ang sugar import noong Pebrero 9.