Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday said that if the administration is really serious about ensuring an ample supply of affordable sugar in the country, then it should start with immediately confiscating the sugar stocks illegally imported into the country by the three “favored” importers.
Earlier, Hontiveros named All Asian Countertrade, Edison Lee Marketing, and Sucden Philippines, as the three “favored” importers.
These sugar importers should be immediately blacklisted, Hontiveros said.
In this way, the government will not be repeatedly forced to deal with the disposal of their illegal supplies, she said.
Hontiveros also noted that if the sugar to be sold at Kadiwa stores is meant to be consumed by the poorest 30 percent of the population, then the country needs at least 300,000 metric tons of sugar.
This amount, she said will ensure that the supplies for sale will not just be for publicity purposes.
“And if the government is committed to selling the smuggled sugar supplies, these should be sold at regular profit rates of P61 per kilo, and not P70,” the opposition senator said.
She said stocks are already smuggled, and yet these are still being sold at jacked-up profits.
“Somebody is really intent on profiting from this situation,” the lawmaker said. She also said the government seems to be “too excited” about the 12,000 metric tons confiscated in Subic and Batangas.
The Philippines’ annual consumption of sugar is 2.2 million metric tons.