The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has stated that the country may run out of sugar supply by August if the government prohibits the import of the sweetener.
“Most of the refineries have stopped operations and only 13 are operating at present. If we continue to rely on local production, we will not be able to meet the domestic demand,” said SRA in a statement.
It noted that the refineries would start operations only after the mills produce raw sugar and it may take more time to build up raw sugar stock.
Typhoon Odette has caused damage to the sugarcane field amounting to P1.5 billion, stated SRA.
“We are facing a sugar shortage and it is real, not imagined,” it noted.
