By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Following recent pronouncements by President Rodrigo Duterte naming the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) as a corrupt government agency and proposed its possible abolition, local labor rights group, the General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA), declared their support for the agency and contradicted the president’s speculations.
“There is no corruption in the SRA,” insisted GAWA Secretary-General Wennie Sancho.
It was reported, among the agencies labeled corrupt, one had hired consultants who were paid P200,000 a month. In response, Sancho said SRA consultants are approved by the SRA board.
He went on to call the issue “untimely” and “not rational.”
Sancho also echoed the sentiment of former Negros Occidental Governor Rafael Coscolluela, who said the agency’s abolition would create uncertainty.
Meanwhile, it was also revealed, Atty. Anna Rosario Paner recently resigned as SRA head./WDJ