Maza warns against domino effect of "Sugar shortage"

Nacionalista-Makabayan senatorial candidate Rep. Liza Maza today warned the Department of Agriculture (D.A.) to immediately address the dubious sugar shortage scenario that resulted to sugar price hikes as members of the Philippine Baking Industry Group and owners of community bakeries have announced that they will be increasing the prices of bread next week.

“The burden of the domino effect of the sugar price hike should not be passed on to consumers. The Department of Agriculture (D.A.) must immediately address this situation before it gets even worse,” Maza said.

Maza, a three-term representative of Gabriela Women’s Party, earlier questioned the recommendation of the Department of Agriculture (D.A) for the National Food Authority to import at least 150,000 metric tons of sugar despite the normal domestic inventory of sugar as reported by the Sugar Regulatory Administration.

According to reports, the price of loaf bread is increasing by P2 while the price of a 10-pack pandesal is increasing by P1. “The subsidized sugar by the NFA is hardly enough to address this problem. We must implement an effective price monitoring and control mechanism to protect consumers,” Maza said.

Maza has filed House Bill 1133 known as the Act amending Sec 12 of R.A. 7581 otherwise known as an Act providing protection to consumers by stabilizing the prices of basic necessities and prime commodities and by prescribing measures against undue price increases. Her proposed bill seeks to include provisions substantial and necessary in protecting consumers. Maza said that the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) should be able to do these important tasks: setting of price ceiling on key and essential commodities particularly those purchased by low income group after verifying through surveys and various studies; recommend to the President the removal or reduction of taxes on basic necessities and prime commodities, including the revision of their commodity classification; recommend to the President the grant of subsidies to certain sectors in order to hasten production of certain items. ###