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Fourth District board member Jose Miguel “Guding” Lacson of Negros Occidental said sugar smuggling is depleting the supply, resulting in price hikes.

The government has established strict monitoring system of sugar supply in the country as its prices continue to soar.

Last January 19, a Philippines-registered vessel, named ML Menham, which was ferrying 37 illegal immigrants and believed to be heading for the southern Philippine island of Jolo, was intercepted by the Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) patrol vessel, KDR MARITIM, off Berhala Island around 1.30 p.m.

MMEA authorities apprehended the vessel’s nine-member crew headed by Neckson Mercado, who is a veteran in barter trade and who knows the waters off Sandakan very well.

He said the MMEA patrol team headed by director of operation V Pannir Selvan A/L Veloo confiscated 3,500 bags of sugar and 435 cartons of cooking oil believed to be smuggled from the Philippines.

Further, Lacson anticipated that sugar prices will remain high during the next milling crop year.

Higher price of sugar is good news to sugar planters, Lacson who is also a sugar planter, said.

However, Lacson is also amenable to the moves to set a Suggested Retail Price (SRP) for sugar because of its soaring price. The suggested ceiling price is from P48 to P52 per kilo.

“We expect the government to come up with a reasonable price dependent on the world market’s price,” Lacson said.

Lacson who is the vice chairman of the Committee on Agriculture at the Provincial Board also said that the provincial government has set up plans and mitigating measures for the possible impact of the El Niño Weather Phenomenon to protect sugar, rice and other agricultural products.

It is only this year that Negros planters enjoy high prices of sugar which are now pegged at 28 to 29 cents per pound compared to 12 to 14 cents per pound in 2008, said Lacson. (PNA)



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