April 18, 2017
Jon Viktor Cabuenas (GMA News) | https://goo.gl/ouEvM2
Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines Inc. on Monday said the beverage industry consumes as much as 40 percent of the country's total sugar production, and its bottling facilities account for 60 percent of the industry demand.
"The Philippines is the first venture of FEMSA in Asia, thus, we are committed to making sure that we are able to serve Filipino communities through our extensive use of local and global resources; and by providing Filipinos with opportunities for productive lives," Juan Lorenzo Tañada, Corporate Affairs and Legal Director of Coca-Cola Philippines, said in an emailed statement.
According to company executives, purchases of local sugar were up by 50 percent this year, noting that it Coca-Cola produces beverages using only locally-produced sugar.
Data from the Sugar Regulatory Administration showed raw sugar output in the country has reached 2.195 million metric tons (MMT) as of April 2 – for the crop year 2016-2017. The crop year is from September to August.
Demand during the same period was 1.278 MMT. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/VDS, GMA News