Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 30) — Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI) confirmed on Tuesday that it has suspended operations in at least four plants amid problems with sugar supply.
“On a day-to-day basis, we may be temporarily suspending operations in certain plants,” CCBPI corporate and regulatory affairs director Juan Lorenzo Tañada told a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.
Tañada said these plants are located in Imus, Cavite; Naga City, Camarines Sur; Davao and Zamboanga.
“Off the top of my head, there could probably be a fifth, your honor. But off the top of my head, I remember four po,” the Coca-Cola executive told the senators.
Workers in these plants need not come to work amid the suspended operations, but they continue to receive their salaries and wages, Tañada assured.
Coca-Cola earlier said the industry needs at least 450,000 metric tons of premium refined bottle grade sugar to utilize its full manufacturing capacity for the rest of 2022.
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Malacañang previously said the government plans to import 150,000 MT of sugar.
The Senate panel is currently investigating the issuance of an order allowing the importation of 300,000 MT of sugar, which President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. eventually rejected.
