The retail price of refined sugar increased by P2.50 per kilo in Iloilo, according to the Agribusiness Marketing and Assistance Division (AMAD) of the Department of Agriculture (DA-6).

From P95 per kilo in May this year, the retail price of refined sugar went up to P97.50 per kilo in the second week of June.

The price of sugar also rose in other parts of the Western Visayas region.

The province of Guimaras posted the highest increase at P97.50 per kilo from P92.50 per kilo and followed by Antique at P95.50 per kilo from P92.50 per kilo.

On the other hand, Negros Occidental — the country’s major sugar producer — recorded a drop in the price from P98 per kilo to P90 per kilo.

In Aklan and Capiz, the price remained steady at P90 per kilo and P95 per kilo, respectively.

Last month, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the importation of up to 150,000 metric tons of sugar “to stabilize the price and boost the country’s stock.”IMT