Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer yesterday said that he will push for the removal of Hermenegildo Serafica as the Sugar Regulatory Administrator, as well as the revocation of the appointment of Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama, as SRA board member.
Ferrer said there were numerous complaints against Serafica as head of the SRA.
While he has no intention earlier of working for the revocation of Valderrama’s appointment, Ferrer, who is the Personal Adviser for Western Visayas of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said he will do it now “after being provoked”.
While he did not elaborate, Ferrer said he will find a way to revoke Valderrama’s appointment.
Valderrama took his oath as SRA board member, before Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Benitez, also a close ally of the President. He replaced Atty. Emilio “Dino” Yulo, who resigned to run in the May 9 elections and won as congressman of the 5th District of Negros Occidental.
While he is thankful that a Negrense was appointed as SRA board member, Ferrer said the appointment of Valderrama is only in “acting capacity”.
Valderrama is the president of the Vicmico Planters Association Inc. and a current director of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Association Inc.
On the other hand, Yulo said he respects the appointment of Valderrama as his successor, hoping that the new SRA board member can deliver, amidst the challenges being faced by the sugar industry.
But he reiterates his appeal for the President to appoint a new SRA head./GB
