The National Federation of Sugarcane Planters Inc., through its president Enrique Rojas, justified the current levels of sugar prices in the wake of clamor from beverage producers to import sugar because of the increasing domestic prices.

In a letter to Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila, Rojas said that NFSP sympathizes with beverage producers in taking steps to reduce costs of production but it is quite frustrating that they do not sympathize with sugarcane farmers.

Favila had earlier said he is amenable to the proposal to allow food processors to import to enable them to lower their manufacturing costs.

SRA CHIEF SAYS
'A' to 'B' swapping
no longer allowed

The Sugar Regulatory Administration no longer allows the advance swapping of "A" or export sugar to "B" domestic sugar to ensure that the Philippines can fill up its share of the US Sugar Quota.

Administrator James Ledesma said the US quota is a long-term national interest of the Philippines and the sugar industry to satisfy the country's national commitment.

The Philippines had already shipped out the last shipment of 25,000 metric tons of "A" sugar to the United States.

Novero tells panel: Review stand
on proposed port fee increase

The city negotiating panel was asked to review its stand on the proposed increase in compensation for the management and operation of the Bacolod port by Bacolod Vice Mayor Renecito Novero yesterday.

The city is proposing the amount of P17.5 million from the present P800,000 annual rental of BREDCO, based on figures taken from the Philippine Ports Authority.

Novero, who is the lawyer of the BREDCO president, said the city should consider that the upward adjustment of the port rental of BREDCO to the city is every five years, so after five years the increase of P17.5 million is about P34 million. Do you think there will be a businessman who will stand to that? He asked.

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