Victorias Milling Company has pledged to help traders in the food manufacturing industries by making available 45,000 sacks at 50 kilos per sack bottler-grade sugar for soft drinks companies like Coca-Cola, Pepsi and RC Cola, Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez said.
This after the 3 soft drinks makers confirmed in a statement the shortage of refined sugar due to surge in pricing and the on-going issue on sugar importation.
According to Rodriguez the commitment from the Negros-based milling company will help avert possible temporary halt in the operations of the soft drinks companies that could result to the displacement of their workers.
“Victoria’s milling also allotted 500,000 kilos of sugar for consignment in Kadiwa stores in the populated parts of the Visayas,” Rodriguez said.
Victorias Milling Company, Inc. (VMC or the Company) is an integrated raw and refined sugar company located in Barangay XVI, Victorias City in Negros Occidental. The company, which was among the earliest modern sugar mills in the country, was founded on May 7, 1919 by Don Miguel J. Ossorio.
CHEAPER SUGAR FOR CONSUMERS
Meanwhile, business tycoons who dominate the supermarket business in the country have heeded the call of Filipino consumers to make available cheap-priced sugar in their groceries and stores amid the sudden spike in sugar prices in the market, said Rodriguez.
On orders from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Rodriguez facilitated series of talks with owners of Robinsons Supermarket, SM Supermarket, Puregold Supermarket and S&R Membership Shopping and they all agreed to the suggested retail price of P70 per kilo of sugar, from a high of P90-P110 per kilo.
According to Rodriguez, SM stores have committed to sell their inventory on washed sugar at P70 per kilo while Robinson’s Supermarket pledged to unload 1 million kilos of sugar at P70.00 per kilo with 1 kilo per pack in Metro Manila.
Puregold likewise committed to make available 2 million kilos of refined sugar at P70 per kilo, Rodriguez added.
“The President lauded the selfless response from these businessmen who are sacrificing not just their own inventory but also their projected business profits for the sake of the ordinary Filipinos at this time when the country is besieged by many problems,” Rodriguez said.
“This is a classic display of the indomitable Filipino spirit of ‘bayanihan’ and love of country,” he added.
