‘DA followed sugar importation directives’

By Vince Lopez

DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) Senior

Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban said the department followed recommendations sent to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. regarding sugar imports.

In a press briefing in Malacanang, Panganiban said the DA acted on the directive of the President to immediately address supply issues.

In a memorandum from the Office of the Executive Secretary dated January 13, 2023, the DA was ordered to implement its recommendations to President Marcos, who is also the Agriculture Secretary, on the 2nd Sugar Importation Program for the Crop Year 2022-2023.

By Maricel V. Cruz

ACT-CIS partylist group nominee Jeffrey Soriano has resigned from his post, prompting the House of Representatives to remove him from its rolls of members.

Former Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Erwin Tulfo, the fourth nominee of ACTCIS, is rumored to replace Soriano.

During Wednesday’s plenary session, House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe revealed that Soriano submitted a letter dated February 6 to Speaker Martin G. Romualdez to informing the House leadership of his resignation from his House seat.

“Mr. Speaker I move that we accept the resignation of Jeffrey Soriano and for the

The memorandum, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, said that around 100,00 metric tons of sugar “shall be automatically classified as ‘B’ or Domestic Sugar” while a total of 350 metric tons “shall be made available to the domestic market or otherwise designated” Panganiban said he selected from the list given to him three sugar importers, whom he considers “the most capable importers that we have”.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros earlier identified three companies in the shipment of 440,000 metric tons of imported sugar, which she branded as “smuggled” since the shipment was not covered by any sugar order.

The sugar imports arrived at the Batangas port on February 15, before Sugar Order (SO) No. 6 was signed, she said.

Secretary-General to be instructed to drop from the roll of members of the House of Representatives representative Soriano effective immediately,” Dalipe said.

Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales, who presided over the session carried the motion after hearing no objection.

Aside from Soriano, other nominees ACT-CIS are Reps. Edvic Yap and Jocelyn Tulfo, the spouse of Senator Raffy Tulfo.

Former House of Representatives Deputy Secretary General Brian Raymund S. Yamsuan meanwhile was sworn into office as the new representative of the Bicol Saro Party-list.

Speaker Martin G. Romualdez administered the oath of office to Yamsuan during this afternoon’s plenary session, completing the process of the latter’s assumption as a member of the House in the 19th Congress.

“It is clear that this importation was not covered by SO No. 6 and is not even covered by the past sugar orders,” she said, adding that the shipment of imported sugar is thus “muggled.”

Hontiveros named the companies as All Asian Countertrade, Sucden Philippines Inc. and Edison Lee Marketing Corporation. However, she did not name which among these sugar importers was flagged down earlier on another government sugar importation issue.

Hontiveros said that based on the information she got from producer organizations and independent sources, 260 20-foot containers imported by All-Asian Countertrade Inc. arrived in the country from Thailand on February 9.

According to Hontiveros, SO6 should have been signed first and once published, the award of allocation should be given to importers.

It will apply to scientific personnel with master’s and doctorate degrees in sciences who are directly involved in research and development, covering biological sciences, engineering and technology, mathematical and physical sciences, health and agricultural sciences, as well as all scientific disciplines determined by the Scientific Career Council (SCC).

The SCS’s administration system will be composed of the chairperson of the CSC as ex-officio chairperson, the secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as ex-officio co-chairperson, and other ex-officio members.

A Technical Working Group and Special Technical Committees (STCs) will be established by the SCC to serve as an advisory body and screening committee.

STC’s in different fields of specialization will be created with each technical committees composed of at least five members recognized by authorities in their respective fields and who will serve for two years.

The appointments of scientists under SCS will be based on rank, from Scientist 1 to Scientist V, who will be admitted to the system to the extent that they meet the minimum qualifications.

By Maricel V. Cruz

SPEAKER Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday commended the government’s intensified and relentless campaign against smuggling as he also thanked law enforcement agencies for heeding his call to raid warehouses in suspected of hoarding onions and garlic.

The lawmaker said they have been coordinating with law enforcement agencies regarding raids of warehouses suspected to hoarding agri products such as onions.

“Kinausap natin ang ating law enforcement agencies para i-raid ang warehouses na hinihinalang nasa likod ng hoarding ng sibuyas at bawang. Ito ang nagpapahirap sa taong-bayan na dahilan ng inflation at pagtaas sa presyo ng mga bilihin,” Romualdez said after an interagency task force led by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) immediately delivered results in the fight against hoarding of onions and garlic.

Romualdez issued the statement after the BOC, under the newly-minted leadership of Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, reported the discovery of around P150 million worth of imported onions and garlic stored in 24 separate locations — many of them warehouses —in the cities of Manila and Malabon.

“I reiterate my warning to these evil hoarders and unscrupulous businessmen. We are breathing down your necks. Tuldukan na ninyo na ang inyong mga gawain na nagpapahirap sa ating mga kababayan,” Romualdez said.