DA, SRA to set sugar SRP to protect consumers

SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE. Agriculture Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista says they are looking into setting a price range for sugar after assessing the local production and import supply on Tuesday (Oct. 11, 2022). She said the move aims to protect consumers while ensuring the welfare of local producers.
(Pixabay photo)

MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) are holding a series of meetings to set an “amenable” suggested retail price (SRP) for sugar, as sugar prices increased in some markets in Metro Manila.

As of Wednesday, prevailing retail prices in Metro Manila are at PHP100/kilo of refined sugar; PHP90/kilo of wash sugar; and PHP86.50 for brown sugar.

In an interview on Tuesday, DA Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista said a price range is “most likely” to be released, considering the supply from local producers.

“So, we have to look into the supply both ‘yung inangkat and ‘yung local, and come up with a price na hindi rin po malulugi ‘yung ating local, at the same time ‘yung ating consumers, kaya na nila, magiging affordable po ang asukal (So we have to look into the supply both imported and local and come up with a price that will not cause loss to our local [producers], at the same time, our consumers can buy it for the affordability of sugar),” she said.

Evangelista said they are targeting to implement this sooner especially since the sugar import supply is slowly coming in.

“Most likely ma’am, before November, the sooner we can implement this, then mas makakatulong tayo sa ating consumers (we can even help our consumers more),” she said.

However, since some local markets are not able to offer PHP70/kilo of sugar due to higher costs from traders, the SRA is also coordinating with sugar traders in supermarkets.

“SRA is working on influencing ‘yung ating traders para mag-supply din po sa palengke at papasok din po siguro ‘yung Kadiwa, ‘yung Kadiwa Express para sa palengke rin po magkaroon ng asukal na mura (so that they can also supply to our markets, and Kadiwa will enter, Kadiwa Express, so that there will be affordable sugar prices), through partnership with the SRA,” she said.

Red onions

Evangelista, meanwhile, said they are coordinating with wholesalers to ensure that retailers will have access to lower priced onions, following the release of DA Administrative Circular 9, series of 2022, setting a PHP170/kilo SRP for medium-sized red onions.

“Pumayag ho ang ating traders na ibaba ang presyo ng wholesale. So ibabagsak ho nila ng PHP150 sa mga palengke, para ang retailer naman po natin, mabenta ito ng PHP170 (Our traders have agreed to drop the wholesale price, so they will distribute it by PHP150 to markets, so that retailers can sell it by PHP170),” she said.

Evangelista, meanwhile, said the DA “understands the predicament of retailers,” especially those whose supplies were from their previous transaction.

“We are going to be working closely with the market masters, ito po ‘yung local government para matulungan din sila na ‘yung susunod nilang supply e ‘yung tama nang presyo… At the same time ‘pag nag-ikot naman po ‘yung market master and ang enforcement team, mayroon naman pong chance ang ating mga retailers to explain bakit ganun ang presyo,” she said (this is the local government to help them in their next supply to access the right price… At the same time, during the rounds of market masters and enforcement team, retailers shall be given chance to explain),” she said.

To date, the price of local red onion in the Metro Manila is PHP200/kilo.

Under the circular signed last Friday, October 7, and undersigned by Agriculture Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, the SRP will cover wet markets in Metro Manila.