Some sugar producers seek P85 to P90 SRP for kilo of sugar

The United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines (UNIFED) sought for an increase in the suggested retail price (SRP) of sugar between P85 and P90 per kilo after farms were battered by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng.

“Naghihingi ako ng angat ng SRP kasi tinamaan kami ni Bagyong Paeng. Our sugar lands were devastated by floods,” UNIFED president Manuel Lamata said in Bernadette Reyes’ “24 Oras” report on Friday.

Pablo Luis Azcona, planters representative of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) board, said the sugar producer group’s request has a basis.

“The inputs naman po of the farmer have not [dropped] down. P85 or even suggesting P90 SRP on refined then our raw sugar will be hopefully nasa P57 to P60 and at P60 that will give the farmers a chance to make a little money and make up the expenses kasi yung fuel and fertilizer po ay still sobrang taas,” Azcona said.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is studying the sugar producer group’s appeal.

“Once we come up with the price na siguro nasa P85 to P90 po tama po 'yan yung presyong tinitingnan ngayon then we can suggest an SRP. But, right now wala pa po tayong SRP,” DA Undersecretary Kristine Evangelista said.

Meanwhile, some sellers and retailers of sweet delicacies said the prices of their products have already increased.

“Nagtaas na po yung mga produkto po namin. Kagaya ng puto po, at mga bibingka,” Kairen Cadag, retailer of sweet delicacies, said.

Based on the data of DA, the prevailing price of white sugar in Metro Manila stood at P105, while both washed and brown sugar at P90.

“Sa ngayon po hindi po namin kaya yung P90 kasi mataas pa yung puhunan namin sa ngayon po yung P100 naming bentahan namumuhunan pa kami ng P96 kaya konti lang naman po yung patong,” retailer of sugar Mylene Cosare said.

The SRA earlier said that at least 150,000 metric tons of white sugar will arrive in the country by November 15. This was approved under the Sugar Order No. 2.

The SRA said this will help to lower the price of sugar which currently remains high. -- Richa Noriega/BAP, GMA News