Coca-Cola Probed Over Indonesia Imports Amid Plant Fire

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is investigating claims that Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines (CCEAP) imported finished Coke products from Indonesia due to a manufacturing plant fire in Misamis Oriental.

SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said the agency learned of the CCEAP's increase in inbound shipments of finished Coke products from the Bureau of Customs and the firm itself. The products used pure cane sugar, which were charged with value-added tax (VAT) and levied with a P6 per liter sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax.

Azcona cited CCEAP's claims that it imported finished products to plug the shortfall in production following the fire. He said the agency along with the Department of Agriculture would confirm if CCEAP's claims warranted the firm's importation.

'Their reason is they're anticipating an increase in sales because their sales volumes are reportedly rising to a point where their local plants might not be able to handle it since the mega plant being built in Tarlac is not yet online,' Azcona told reporters.