By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Two Negros-based sugar farmer groups have called for the resignation of Sugar Regulatory Administration chief Hermenegildo Serafica. In a letter, Roberto Cuenca, president of the Asociación de Agricultores de la Carlota y Pontevedra Inc. (AALCPI) said Serafica should allow somebody else to speak and stand up for the industry if he is not up to the task to do so.
“One who is brave enough to point out what is wrong with the policy of the economic managers and one who is willing to provide the government with sustainable solutions not only for the sugar industry but also for the whole agriculture sector,” Cuenca said. “If he cannot fulfill this responsibility then we strongly believe that he should be conscientious enough to step down and resign as SRA administrator.”
Meanwhile, the United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines (Unifed), in a resolution passed during a board meeting last Thursday, joined the call.
“His response was such a disappointment,” Cuenca stated. “As SRA administrator, he already had the chance to speak on our behalf; he already had the chance to speak for the sugar industry and stand against liberalization and yet he failed.”
“As the head of the SRA, it is within his power to make conclusions and recommendations on what should be the stand of the government in terms of liberalization,” he added. “It is within his power to come up with solutions and provide the same to the [Agriculture Secretary William Dar] and not the other way around.”/DGB, WDJ

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