MANILA, Philippines - Retail prices of sugar should be steady in coming weeks, said the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), as supply in warehouses remains enough, and with more imports expected to arrive until next month.

"While it is true that the milling season has ended, we still have enough supply of sugar for our requirement up to the next milling season," SRA Administrator Bernardo Trebol said.

Trebol noted that sugar mills still have over 600,000 metric tons of sugar in warehouses, and this figure excludes the inventory in warehouses of traders and wholesalers.

The government also initiated an import program for a total of 150,000 metric tons of sugar from the world market. Bulk of this volume will arrive within the months of June and July, just before the lean season.

"We assure our consumers that there will always be enough supply of sugar," said Trebol.

The SRA promised to run after retailers who would raise sugar prices unreasonably.

"We will not allow unscrupulous businessmen to create a situation where they will project a picture of shortage in the supply to their own advantage," Trebol remarked.