Sugar producers promise consumers a ‘White Christmas’

A sugar producers group promises lower sugar prices in time for the Christmas season as they expect an increase in the country’s supplies starting in November.

In Cedric Castillo’s report on “24 Oras” on Friday, the United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines (USPFP) said Filipinos can expect to have a “White Christmas”.

“Umiipon pa ‘yung sugar mills, iniipon pa ‘yung mga raw para sa pag-fire up ng refinery, tuloy-tuloy. So that’s scheduled for I think middle of November,” USPFP President Manuel Lamata said.

(The sugar mills are stocking up on raw supplies so when they fire up the refinery, production will be continuous. That’s scheduled for I think in the middle of November.)

“I can guarantee you, I give you my word. Babagsak ‘yung presyo at saka dami-daming sugar (Prices will drop and there will be abundant sugar) for December… White Christmas,” he said.

Sugar prices are expected to drop to around P70 to P80 per kilo once the 150,000 metric tons of imported supplies contracted under the Sugar Regulatory Administration's (SRA's) Sugar Order No. 2 arrive in the country.

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) meanwhile hoped sugar prices could be further reduced to P65 to P70 per kilo.

For its part, the Department of Trade and Industry appealed to several supermarkets to maintain the P70 per kilo price ceiling until Christmas.

GMA News reached out to the Department of Agriculture for its comment but they have yet to respond. — Sundy Mae Locus/DVM, GMA News