Sugar industry should 'elevate their game' amid rising prices, says Dar

Agriculture Secretary William Dar on Tuesday said sugar production should be boosted after its price already rose to P90 per kilo in some markets in the country.

"Maraming dapat gawin [A lot of things should be done]. You need to continue to boost productivity of sugar, I mean the sugarcane that we have. Ang sugarcane industry has to elevate their game," he said in a press briefing.

Dar defended the decision of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to import 200,000 metric tons (MT) of refined sugar for industrial users.

"The industries need sugar. Kung walang sugar, apektado ang industry [if there is no sugar, the industry will be affected]," he said.

Asked if he would suggest to President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. -- who will lead the Department of Agriculture for the meantime -- to import more sugar, Dar said he will check related data first.

Prices of sugar have increased in Metro Manila, following the impact of weather conditions on production, along with the higher delivery charges given the increase in petroleum prices.

The SRA cited the impact of last December's Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) in the Negros region, which it said brought down production for the months of March to May.  —KBK, GMA News