Panganiban: Real status of sugar in Philippines known after December 2022

The real state of the country's sugar supply would be known after December this year, Agirculture Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban has said.

In the latest episode of The Mangahas Interviews, Panganiban said the sugar the traders bought from the millers should be out in one week "if ever they are necessary."

"But since they are keeping it for quite a time, some two months, three months, medyo ang category n'un hoarding," Panganiban told journalist Malou Mangahas.

"Nonetheless, in the long run, after December 2022, malalaman natin ang real status ng sugar sa ating bansa," he added as regards whether there was a shortage or just a disagreement on how much should be imported.

Asked about the information that came out in a Senate hearing that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. mentioned the importation of 600,000 tons of sugar, Panganiban said, "I have never heard the President talk about figures except 150,000."

Malacañang in August confirmed that the proposed amount of sugar that would be imported is 150,000 metric tons.

"'Yun po ang proposed quantity for importation gawa nga ng pangangailangan ng mga industrials na tinatawag ng ating Pangulo, sila po ang gumagamit ng commercial quantities, in large commercial quantities ng asukal and some jobs are dependent on their continued production," Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said. —NB, GMA News