The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is seeking authority from Malacanang for the sale of 80,000 bags of confiscated sugar at the various Kadiwa rolling stores.
The bags of sugar were seized at the Batangas Port just last week.
David Alba, SRA administrator, said the Bureau of Customs seized some 4,000 metric tons of refined sugar worth P240 million from M/V Sunward originating from Thailand, based on a tip that the vessel was carrying alleged smuggled sugar.
Alba bared a plan to make representations before President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to have the confiscated sugar sold through the Kadiwa so the public “can enjoy refined sugar at a lower cost.”
He did not detail the proposed price of the seized sugar when sold in rolling stores.
Last October, sugar in Kadiwa stores were sold at P70 per kilogram on supply provided by local millers.
The Department of Agriculture’s monitoring of public markets in the National Capital Region as of Monday show the commodity selling for P90 to P110 per kilogram for refined sugar, P85 to P95 per kilogram for washed sugar and P80 to P95 per kilogram for brown sugar.
SRA mill site monitoring also show the composite price of raw sugar as of January 1, 2023 stood at P3,217.94 per 50-kilogram bag.
The SRA also warned illegal traders and smugglers of the full force of the law for infractions.
Earlier, the President on Sunday said the government will maintain a two-month sugar buffer to avoid shortages in the future.
He did not elaborate but said the government is looking at ways to boost the production and eventually, the supply of agricultural products as sugar and onion to stop rampant smuggling.
The plan has the support of local stakeholders.
Danilo Fausto, president of the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc., said government should have implemented strategic buffer stocking for basic commodities, including sugar, “a long time ago.”
Fausto said this will ensure stability of commodity prices.
