Robes is the chair of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability and the Committee on Agriculture and Food.She noted that imported refined sugar for the beverage industry accounts for more than 50 percent of the country’s consumption.
“Since the beverage industry is consuming more sugar, it is also contributing to the consolidated demand for the country, hence the high cost of sugar in the retail market. Under the proposed scheme, the SRA will be mandated to issue separate importation orders for the beverage industry and for local consumers so that these will not affect inflation,” Robes said, referring to the Sugar Regulatory Administration.