BY ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
NEGROS planters are “whining” and “cajoling” anew.
Former Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) board member Dino Yulo called on both the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to act on the “exorbitant” prices of fertilizers. He said current pricings have more than doubled compared to last year.
The National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP) also registered its vehement objection to SRA’s Sugar Order No. 3, allowing the importation of 200,000 metric tons of sugar. NFSP president Enrique “Nene” Rojas termed such as “excessive”.
The Manuel Lamata-led United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED) supported Yulo’s call on the fertilizer issue and, at the same time, called for SRA administrator Hermenegildo Serafica’s immediate resignation.
UNIFED, in a press statement, said, “It is appalling that the very agency that is supposed to protect seems determined to kill the (sugar) industry.”
Same as Rojas, Lamata also got irked with the SRA plan to import refined sugar for industrial users.
On the other hand, Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri joined Yulo’s appeal for both the DA and DTI to immediately act on high prices of fertilizers.
In his own personal website, Zubiri said the current fertilizer issue constitutes an “agricultural crisis”.
“This is by far, the worst scenario besetting our farmers. I’ve been getting cries for help particularly from the sugar industry sector,” Zubiri said..
Oops! Is that so?
Decrypting the series of press statements regarding sugar, it is as if there’s a looming crisis.
Too, it is as if “mangin pobre naman ang mga mamumugon sa kampo”, thus, sugar planters are now whining for government to hear their appeals.
Moreover, they are cajoling Serafica to resign now for an “incompetent decision” of issuing Sugar Order No. 3.
But the question is: Where’s CONFED (Confederation of Sugar Producers, Assn.)? CONFED is one of the biggest associations of sugar producers in the country.
Why is there no unity a mong the planters in their calls on the fertilizer issue, SRA Serafica’s immediate resignation and scrapping of Sugar Order No. 3?
Quite mystifying to note!
Another question: Why whine and cajole through the media? Isn’t it inappropriate?
‘CRYING BABIES’
Planters, in all aspects, are powerful than media. They can raise their voice(s) in Malacañang any time. They also have the “intrinsic power” to influence the decision-makers (congressmen and senators) in the country. Thus, it’s so “awkward” to read that planters, especially those from Negros, are whining and cajoling again.
This reminds me of former president Fidel V. Ramos who branded Negros’ planters as “crying babies”. Facts then and now say Negros planters are “bratty” people. Connection-wise, it’s a given fact that they have plenty here and up to the Malacañang Palace.
So, why issue press statement(s) if they themselves can sit down with those “powerful” to immediately arrest the problem(s)? Aren’t they close to President Duterte?
Or can’t they “elbow” sugar czar Serafica, DA Secretary William Dar and DTI Secretary Mon Lopez?
I don’t think so.
In the case of Senator Zubiri, crowned as “champion” of the sugar industry”, isn’t it an “innuendo” to say that there’s an agricultural crisis now due to high price of fertilizers? Well, granting that there’s a crisis really, then, what is he doing right now? Yes, he called the attention of DA and DTI since September last year to date. But is it enough? Didn’t he muster his haggling ability yet? Can’t he use his “weight” to persuade DA and DTI to act now?
To carry the brand as champion of the sugar industry has the tall challenge to always protect the industry and its stakeholders in spite of everything.
But to always “whine” in public through press releases is nothing but purely publicity stunt. Serafica, Dar and Lopez are just appointees of the President. All their decisions, of course, have the “blessings” or can be influenced by the President.
So, why don’t Zubiri or the planters go directly to the President if there’s a crisis in the sugar industry?
Zubiri and the planters are no ordinary beings on earth. Everybody knows they have the “capacity” to do what they want to do. Thus, talking directly to the President will surely lead to prompt actions.
WHERE’S ‘TATAK KALAMAY’?
Meanwhile, some intellectual Negrenses also ask: Where’s “Tatak Kalamay”?
Tatak Kalamay should be in the forefront now of the “pressing” issues confronting the sugar industry.
Tatak Kalamay, a multi-sectoral group, was founded and became famous during 2019 elections. Yulo was one of the conveners then.
But the group also became controversial when it publicly endorsed, supported and campaigned for the eight senatorial bets that included Sonny Angara, JV Ejercito, Nancy Binay, Bato Dela Rosa, Francis Tolentino, Bong Go, Koko Pimentelm and Cynthia Villar.
Of the seven, only Ejercito lost. Villar, on the other hand, is the current chair of the “powerful” Senate Committee on Agriculture. Pimentel chairs the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship. Can’t both help with the problems now of the sugar industry? What are their commitment(s) to the sugar industry when they negotiated with Tatak Kalamay?
Did they only use Tatak Kalamay as their potent vehicle to rake votes of the “mamumugon sa kampo” from Negros or either way around?
Quite interesting and, at the same time, startling, too! Because dissecting the press releases on the fertilizer issue and Sugar order No. 3, it’s natural for other planters to ask the current status of Tatak Kalamay. Is it dead or (still) alive?
If it’s “dead”, then, Negrenses, commented by one planter, deserve to know the “post mortem” report.
But if it’s still alive, then, what is its vital role now if, indeed, there’s this a sugar crisis?
Yulo, therefore, ought to be transparent about the current status of Tatak Kalamay.
In 2019, the mamumugon sa kampo religiously followed the “dictates’ of their landlords to vote for Tatak Kalamay’s senators. With the bantering line “Sugar is life! Magic 8 e-like”, they were excited and optimistic that no matter what happens in the industry, they still have these eight senators who will protect and advance their interests and welfare.
Alas, with the current updates, it seems these “mamumugon sa kampo” could end up as victims anew of “paasa” and “maling akala”.
So sad, as in!/PN
