In a recent statement, Pablo Luis Azcona, the head of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), dismissed accusations from sugar producer groups about an oversupply of sugar, which they claimed was causing a decline in millgate prices. Azcona labeled these claims as malicious during a press conference in Bacolod City.
The accusations came from a coalition including the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters, the Confederation of Sugar Producers Association Inc., the Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers Inc., and the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry. They suggested that the government’s decision to halt sugar imports until after the harvest season was a deliberate move to prevent price drops.
Azcona clarified that the government’s announcement was purely to maintain transparency and keep stakeholders informed, not to manipulate market prices. He pointed out that on November 10, he and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. had announced that no sugar imports would be pursued until mid-next year, given the stable levels of raw and refined sugar stocks.
He criticized the Sugar Council, formed by the three federations, for not attending stakeholder meetings organized by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the SRA, where such announcements are typically made. Azcona accused the groups of spreading misinformation through the media to sow discord and instability within the industry.
Azcona expressed frustration over the groups’ preference for media exposure over direct communication, stating he is always available for discussions. He refuted the Sugar Council’s claim that the delay in import decisions was intended to control sugar prices, emphasizing that the SRA’s role does not include marketing or pricing of sugar.
He highlighted that all plans by the SRA and DA are discussed in stakeholder meetings, the most recent of which was on August 6, which the Sugar Council did not attend. Azcona also provided data showing that as of November 10, 2024, sugar production was down by 61 percent, and current stocks were 35 to 37 percent below last year’s levels, contradicting claims of an oversupply.