Alliance says beverage firms have not yet purchased add’l sugar

Sugar Alliance of the Philippines (SAP) intends to meet with Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol to air their complaints about the supposed commitment of beverage firms to purchase more local sugar amid the controversy surrounding their use of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

To recall, Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) earlier issued an order that effectively limited the entry of imported HFCS into the country.

Then Piñol, in his capacity as SRA's chairman of the board, made an order to hold in abeyance such order because softdrink makers were not consulted to its issuance.

HFCS is currently being used as a cheaper alternative to sugar.

To settle the issue, a multi-stakeholder meeting was held at the Department of Agriculture (DA) in March wherein giant beverage firms Cola FEMSA Philippines and Pepsi Cola have sought for an access to locally produced sugar solely meant for export, which is relatively cheaper to domestic allocation, so they can reduce their dependence on cheaper, imported HFCS.

That's also when they expressed willingness to buy more locally produced sugar at lower prices, according to Piñol.

SAP spokesperson Emilio Yulo said that first of all, their group has not been invited to the said meeting and that these beverages firms, until now, have not made any additional purchase orders.

"They agreed to buy more locally grown sugar. But we have not, at this particular time, have not received additional orders from beverage firms. We have checked with our orders, there is no definitive purchase orders as of this time," Yulo told reporters on Wednesday.