Manila: The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) anticipates a decline in the country’s sugar production for the 2023-2024 crop year, estimating a reduction of 10 to 15%, due to the impact of the El Nino phenomenon, reported CNNPhilippines.
In accordance with Sugar Order No. 1 Series of 2023-2024, issued by the SRA board on Monday, the projected total raw sugar production for the upcoming crop year is set at approximately 1.85 million metric tons (MT).
For the 2023-2024 crop year, the SRA has projected a total domestic raw sugar withdrawal of approximately 2.20 million MT.
The order stipulates that 100% of the expected sugar production must be earmarked by mill companies as “B” or domestic market sugar.
The order specifies, “Sugar mill companies shall issue weekly sugar quedan-permits or molasses storage certificates in the name of the individual planter or mill companies for their corresponding shares of sugar and molasses production for the crop year 2023-2024.”
Additionally, it mandates the disposal of any unused sugar quedan-permit forms from the previous crop year, rendering them ineligible for use.
To ensure effective management, the SRA will conduct periodic assessments of the sugar production trends for the 2023-2024 crop year. Adjustments to the percentage allocation or distribution to other sugar classes may be considered if necessary.
The order bears the signatures of Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, SRA Administrator and CEO Pablo Luis Azcona, and SRA Board Members Ma. Mitzi Mangwag and David Andrew Sanson.
It is worth noting that Panganiban had previously faced controversy related to sugar importation in February.
