Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 21) — It is “more favorable” to give away smuggled refined sugar to the poor and victims of calamities than to sell them in Kadiwa stores, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Friday.
\”Kaysa mabulok o ibenta para pagkakitaan pa, bakit hindi na lang ibigay ng libre sa mga kababayan nating nangangailangan at biktima ng kalamidad?\” Hontiveros said in a statement.
[Translation: Rather than rot or make money out of it, why not just distribute it for free to our countrymen who are in need or who are victims of calamity.]
Hontiveros also urged the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to expand the list of sugar traders and industries authorized to procure their own supplies.
Earlier, the SRA said it plans to sell 4,000 metric tons (MT) of smuggled refined sugar in Kadiwa stores at ₱85 per kilogram.
READ: SRA eyes sale of 4,000 MT smuggled refined sugar in Kadiwa stores by May
\”Bakit pagkakakitaan pa ang galing sa iligal? Sa komputasyon ng aking opisina, dapat ₱65 lang ang presyo ng asukal na imported galing Thailand,\” Hontiveros said.
[Translation: Why are we making money through an illegal act? According to my office’s computation, sugar imported from Thailand should only cost ₱65 pesos per kilogram.]
\”Hindi ba ang goal ay maging abot-kaya ang presyo para sa lahat ng PIlipino? Pero bakit mataas pa rin ang presyo kung ibebenta?\” she added.
