Tighten leash on sugar imports, not on small retailers – KMU

Importation policy to blame for steep sugar prices 

Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno hit the Department of Agriculture’s vow to padlock stores of small retailers if caught selling sugar at higher prices, saying it should instead tighten control on sugar importation, which is at the root of the current price hikes.

KMU said the manner by which the Arroyo government addresses rising sugar prices threatens the livelihood of Filipino retailers while at the same time covers up the country’s dependence on sugar imports to the advantage of foreign producers.

“In its refusal to change the local agriculture’s orientation to rely on imports, the Arroyo regime has chosen to crack its whip on small retailers and close down ‘profiteers.’ Yet at the end of the day, it is the Filipino people who will ultimately suffer with this stupid measure, while the root cause of high sugar prices remains untouched,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson.

“Local retailers are just selling sugar based on the price hikes of sugar in the world market. If the government is really sincere in bringing down the price of sugar, then it should defer further imports and focus on strengthening the local sugar industry,” he added.

KMU warned the government against pursuing its planned importation of 150,000 metric tons of sugar without tariffs to supposedly stabilize sugar supply.

“Importing tons of sugar at this critical period will only lead to collapse of the local sugar retail industry and to a new chapter of even higher sugar prices. Meanwhile, workers stand to suffer higher prices of commodities that are dependent on sugar,” Labog said. 

The labor leader also said the price monitoring and SRP by the Department of Agriculture and Department of Trade and Industry are “pa-sweet measures aimed at only masquerading the bitter truth about shrinking farm lands.”

“Widespread land-use conversion for subvisions and high-cost residences and foreign agri-corporations have robbed Filipinos a chance to cultivate and produce sufficient agricultural products like sugar for local consumption,” he said. #