It is hereby published the following information regarding the abovementioned subject, to wit:

1. That the Philippine regular U.S. Quota for QY 2005-2006 is 137,353 MTCW. The said quota is already almost filled-up by our sugar traders/exporters as of the date hereof.

2. That the Philippines had been granted an additional U.S. quota of 50,099 MTCW as of December 9, 2005 making the official total U.S. Quota by then reach 187,452 MTCW for QY 2005-2006.

3. That 25,000 MT of the Total U.S. Quota had already departed/shipped out for the U.S. and five (5) other vessels had already been nominated and/or scheduled to arrive between March 2 - May 5, 2006 which will make the deliveries close to 80% of the total U.S. Quota allocation.

4. That there is another additional U.S. Quota of around 30,000 MTRV or 28,986 MTCW that has been granted to the Philippines (announced February 22, 2006).

5. That we have already confirmed to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) of the intention of the Philippines to fill-up both the regular and additional U.S. Quotas for QY 2005-2006, now totaling 216,437 MTCW.

Also, it is hereby announced that the SRA has NO intention to adopt the policy of Advance Swapping of the œA  Export sugar into œB  Domestic sugar for CY 2005-2006 in as much as our œA  available sugar produced during the current CY 2005-2006 and the previous CY is just enough to fill-up both our regular and additional U.S. Quotas for QY 2005-2006, and that the œA  classification is specifically intended to fill up the U.S. quota, a commitment which is to the long term national interest of the Philippines and the sugar industry to satisfy.

For the information and guidance of all concerned.

Adopted: 23 Feb. 2006

(SGD.) JAMES C. LEDESMA
Administrator