- BERT BAYORAN
Three sugar planters’ federations, representing 57.48 percent of sugar production in the country, came to the rescue of replaced Sugar Board member Aurelio Gerardo “Bodie” Valderrama Jr., stressing that he acted in good faith in signing the Sugar Order Number 4, that calls for the importation of 300,000 MT of sugar.
In a joint statement, the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP), Confederation of Sugarcane Producers (Confed), and Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers (Panay FED) said that Valderrama based his decision on the historical and official data of the Sugar Regulatory Administration, after proper consultations with stakeholders, and by following long established process of the SRA.
They reiterated their confidence in Valderrama and in his integrity as a short-lived planters’ representative to the SRA Board. They also thanked him “for his forthright and selfless brief service and stint to the Sugar Board”.
Valderrama was replaced by Pablo Luis Azcona, who is affiliated with the United Sugar Producers Federation (Unifed). The two others named in the reconstituted SRA were David John Thaddeus Alba as SRA acting administrator, and Ma. Mitzi Mangwag, the millers’ representative to the Sugar Board.
All three new appointees are Negrenses.
Former SRA officials recently signed SO4, or the planned importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar, to address the country’s looming shortage from August to October, when sugar mills are either not yet operational or have just started milling.
During this period, they said that domestic supply relies on stock balances from the previous crop year and from early sugar production, which is not sufficient to cover the average monthly demand.
SO4 was invalidated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who eventually announced that he was amenable to the importation of only 150,000MT of sugar.
Sugar leaders lauded the president’s decision to import 150,000MT of sugar, as a step in the right direction, and his appointment of the new officials.
With the appointment of the new SRA officials, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he hopes that the SRA can now tackle the issues confronting the sugar industry.
“This is what we had been hoping for, a Negrense to head the SRA,” Lacson said./GB
his wife, Rica.
