SRA chief wants seized sugar sold

SUGAR Regulatory Administration (SRA) Administrator David Alba on Tuesday said that he will recommend to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the sale of confiscated smuggled sugar at the Kadiwa stores.

“I will make a representation to the President to have these sugar sold through Kadiwa so the public can enjoy refined sugar at a lower cost,” Alba said.

Alba noted that at least 80,000 bags of smuggled sugar were confiscated at the Batangas port last week.

At least 4,000 metric tons, or P240 million worth of illegally source1d refined sugar from Thailand, were also intercepted.

The shipment was registered under MV Sunward.

The DA (Department of Agriculture) also reported the confiscation of P19 million worth of smuggled sugar at the Manila International Container Port on Jan. 11, 2022.

“We thank the Bureau of Customs enforcement unit and Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz for their vigilance that led to the seizure of the smuggled sugar,” Alba added.

A total of P1.9 billion worth of various smuggled agricultural products was seized in 2022.