Top makers of popular carbonated beverages on Tuesday said the bottling industry is bearing the brunt of declining supply of sugar in the Philippines.
In a joint statement, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc., Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc., and ARC Refreshments Corp. confirmed that “our industry is facing a shortage of premium refined sugar – a key ingredient in many of our products.”
“We are working closely with other stakeholders of the industry and the government to address the situation,” the soft drinks makers said.
“We thank our customers and the public for their continued support to our products and for their understanding,” they added.
The bottlers’ statement came amidst the controversial issuance of Sugar Order No. 4 (SO4), authorizing the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar which was later on deemed “illegal” as it was signed without the knowledge and expressed approval of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who as the concurrent secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) also sits as the chairman of the Sugar Board.