(Target ng DA) PAG-ANGKAT NG 200,000 MT NG ASUKAL

TINATARGET ng Department of Agriculture (DA) na umangkat ng  200,000 metric tons (MT) ng asukal upang punan ang inaasahang supply gap at masiguro ang katatagan ng presyo nito.

“Well, magkakaroon tayo ng importation sa sugar, if you want to know. Dapat by September, may arrival tayo, at least 200,000 (metric) tons, refined, for the gap before harvest and refining,” wika ni Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

Ayon sa kalihim, nakatakdang magpulong ang DA at ang Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) upang ipormalisa ang planong importasyon sa sa susunod na buwan.

“We’ve been talking about it for six months,” ani Tiu Laurel.

“That’s the deficit as we foresee the current stocks will go down by August, September so we’d have a gap sugar of 200,000 [metric] tons at least by September, October,“ aniya.

Noong Disyembre ng nakaraang taon ay sinabi ng Agriculture chief na plano nilang limitahan ang importasyon ng asukal sa 200,000 metric tons (MT) ngayong taon.

Suportado naman ng United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED) ang planong pag-aangkat.

“This will fill in the shortage before the harvest season starts in September. Harvest this coming crop year will be delayed due to El Niño and when we were consulted about this matter, we approved the proposal,” sabi ni UNIFED President Manuel Lamata sa isang statement.

PAULA ANTOLIN