The Confederation of Sugar Producers' Association Inc. yesterday clarified that it is objecting to the importation of sugar by beverage companies and that the move will not be acceptable.

CONFED Negros-Panay Chapter Jose Luis Tongoy said that they have written to Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila saying that their objections will be mitigated if it will be done after the milling season in the Philippines and will be imposed the necessary import duties.

However, Tongoy said that even if their objection is lessened, it does not mean that it becomes acceptable and it remains an objection.

Tongoy was reacting to the headline of the DAILY STAR business section on March 2 saying, "Sugar import acceptable after RP milling season." He said that he is clarifying CONFED's position because some of their members claim that the headline is giving traders a confusing signal, that the CONFED is endorsing another sugar importation plan.

That gave traders another reason to bid down "B" prices by as much as P70 per Lkg., Tongoy said.

"Granting that this was only a ploy of the traders, the loss of revenue to the sugar producers, which could run to hundreds of millions of pesos, is very real," he added.*NLG

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