Local news

March 18, 2015
Business World by Claire Feliciano | http://goo.gl/Cz9GWs

THE SUGAR Regulatory Administration (SRA) said sugar output is expected to fall below initial projections and has eliminated the export allocation to non-United States (US) markets to make way for domestic use of the commodity.

In an order dated March 12, the SRA approved the amended allocation of the country’s sugar production for the crop year 2014-2015, which ends in August.

March 17, 2015
The Malaysian Insider | http://goo.gl/67TO1B

Sugar output in the Philippines, a key US supplier, is now expected to be below the government's initial forecast of 2.5 million tonnes for the current crop year due to bad weather, prompting the industry regulator to cut allocations for exports.

March 17, 2015
Philippine Information Agency by Jasper Rucat | http://goo.gl/ku7ROY

CAGAYAN DE ORO, March 17 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through its multi-stakeholder briefing here on ASEAN Economic Community and European Union’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (EU-GSP+) urges more export activities to Europe and ASEAN countries to maximize its zero tariff of over 6,000 products.

March 17, 2015
Daily Star by Carla Gomez | http://goo.gl/wyEZ7V
 

The Bureau of Internal Revenue has issued Revenue Regulation No 4-2015 on imposing advance Value Added Tax on raw and refined sugar but sugar leaders yesterday said it cannot be imposed because it is still covered by a court issued restraining order.

Enrique Rojas, president of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters, said the new order was published  yesterday and it will take effect on April 1.

March 16, 2015
Business World by Mikhail Flores | http://goo.gl/RRTybZ

THE BUREAU of Internal Revenue (BIR) has clarified the tax treatment of sugar while standing behind a previous ruling that only “muscovado” is tax-exempt of all the sugar products.

In Revenue Regulations 4-2015, the BIR said “refined sugar and raw sugar... shall be subject to advance payment of VAT (value-added taxes) by the owner/seller before the sugar is withdrawn from any sugar refinery/mill”.

March 14, 2015
Sun Star | http://goo.gl/7rYQiu

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has increased by five percent its allocation for “B” or domestic sugar, and removed the “D” or world market allocation, a press statement from the agency said Friday.

The new allocation will take effect immediately, covering the sugar production of week ending March 15, 2015 and subsequent week endings of crop year 2014-2015.

March 13, 2015
Sugaronline | http://goo.gl/tzzuBk
 

Farmers crying for agrarian reform want to file a complaint before the Committee on Ethics and Privileges of the House of Representatives against lawmakers who seem keen to kill the program, according to the Philippines Centre for Investigative Journalism.

Filing suit against the legislators they accuse of causing undue delay in the passage of two laws that seek to speed up the implementation of land reform is an option that farmers plan to take.

March 12, 2015
Daily Star by Carla Gomez | http://goo.gl/Y2IcOM
 

Sugar Regulatory Administrator Ma. Regina Martin yesterday said a mild El Niño is not worrisome for the sugarcane industry because more sun is good for cane growth.

Negros Occidental has not felt a pronounced El Niño yet, she said.

There has been rain in the first quarter of the year, this means the canes are receiving sufficient moisture necessary for initial growth, she said.

March 11, 2015
Daily Star by Carla Gomez | http://goo.gl/FdaPb5

The Bureau of Internal Revenue is issuing a memorandum circular that will clarify some provisions of Revenue Regulation 11-2014 that imposes a one percent creditable withholding tax on raw sugar and molasses upon withdrawal from the mills, Ric Cabrera, BIR Region 12 chief legal counsel, said yesterday.

A lot of clarifications will be made. “Definitely, it would temper the opposition,” he said.

March 11, 2015
Inquirer by Carla Gomez | http://goo.gl/kJGdJT

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines—Several lawmakers and sugar industry leaders have cited the lack of support services to farmer-beneficiaries as major reason for the failure of the land reform program to improve the lives of the poorest of the poor.

They claimed that the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), whose implementation has been extended twice by Congress, was a total failure, and thus should be scrapped.