By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
FIRST of all, Negrenses are thankful to Negros Occidental’s Gov. Bong Lacson for “putting out the fire” caused by a “word war” between Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer and newly-appointed Sugar Regulatory Administrator (SRA) board member Gerardo “Bodie” Valderrama.
Lacson’s “soul of humility” prevailed amid tension triggered by President Bongbong Marcos’ (BBM) appointment of Valderrama.
Anyhow, let’s focus on the sugar crisis! The crunch is highlighted by two current scenarios – lack of supply and high prices. It all started with the botched Sugar Order (SO) No. 3.
Then SO No. 4 was crafted last week. Like SO No. 3, it also aims at importing 300,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar to address the perceived shortage. Alas, it caused another dilemma – the “signature brouhaha”.
BBM denied signing SO No. 4.
Too, the Palace said, BBM never authorized the Agriculture Secretary for Operations and Chief of Staff who, at the same time, SRA Board Member Leocadio Sebastian, to sign in his behalf. So, out of anger, the president bunged SO No. 4.
The President’s decision was cheered and also jeered by disunited sugar planters in the country.
FALL GUY?
Sebastian pointed to Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez as the one who verbally ordered him to convene the SRA Board and draft SO No.4.
But Rodriguez denied such.
Left with no choice, the embattled Sebastian resigned from his post. He assumed full responsibility for the mess.
Following suit, SRA board member Roland Beltran also resigned on Monday (Aug. 15). But he cited “health reasons” as basis of his resignation.
BBM then appointed Domingo Panganiban vice Sebastian.
For some agri experts, however, Sebastian was a “fall guy” on the clutter. Many, including Agriculture Undersecretary Fermin Adriano, could attest to Sebatian’s professionalism and notable achievements beyond compare.
For some Negros’ planters, Sebastian is a “man of integrity”.
In spite of his resignation, lots of politicians want to ride on the issue still. In local parlance, “guban sa kuyog”.
Senate President Migz Zubiri, in a privilege speech, called on two other signatories in SO No. 4 to follow Sebastian and Beltran. He was referring to Valderrama and SRA chief Hermenegildo Serafica.
But former Negros Occidental governor and SRA chief Lito Coscolluela, on Facebook (FB), advised Zubiri to study the issue before casting judgment.
‘CHA-CHA’
Things get complicated though. BBM, in his recent vlog, also announced the country may import sugar, but not now. “Well, maybe in October and only 150,000 MT.”
Is the president dancing a “Cha-Cha”? Confusing, isn’t it?
Moreover, per Zubiri, there’s no lack of sugar in the country. Rather, there are traders hoarding the supply, he added.
David Alba and Manuel Lamata of the Asociacion de Agricultores de La Carlorta y Pontevedra, Inc . (AALCPI) and United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED), respectively theorized the same. Both also hailed President Marcos’ decision to abort SO No. 4.
Seriously, Zubiri, crowned as “sugar industry champion”, said importation kickback may reach up to P600 million.
Opps! Why only now when there’s already a crisis?
Questions:
* If hoarding is the cause of sugar crisis, what’s the government’s immediate move to address such?
* Didn’t Zubiri know about the importation kickback before?
* What’s the best thing Zubiri can offer then to help lower down the prices of sugar?
Beyond the privilege speech, I think Zubiri must listen to the very clamor of the people. Sugar at more than P100 per kilo is beyond everyone’s means.
Yes, milling has started. With this, planters are casting hope to solve the sugar crisis. But what if the output later ain’t enough to fill-in the current gap? Will high prices remain?
People will end up like pobreng alindahaw, a poor dragonfly weathering the rain to look for food.
Matimpla gid kita sini kape nga wala na kalamay.
‘TEAM OF RIVALS’
On the other hand, former Interior and Local Government secretary Rafael Alunan III, on FB, said “precious time has been lost already.” The beverage industry, he said, is running out of premium sugar needed for bottling their carbonated soft drinks by September.
Thus, the “sense of urgency is needed now,” he added.
Meanwhile, three big sugar planters’ groups in Negros and Panay are urging unity in the industry amidst challenges.
In their Manifesto of Support, the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters, Inc. (NFSP), Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations, Inc. (CONFED) and Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers, Inc. (PANAYFED), reiterated their full-support to Valderrama’s appointment to the SRA Board.
“With the industry facing a supply shortage even as milling for the new season begins, the SRA needs a working Board to undertake measures to stabilize supply and maintain prices at levels that provide reasonable profit for the producers while making sugar more affordable and affordable to consumers and industrial/institutional end-users,” they stressed in a manifesto.
For the trio, Valderrama is a team player, thus, a plus factor for the industry.
Question: Why Valderrama, a noted pro-Leni Robredo?
“Team of Rivals” theory is the answer. Sen.r Imee Marcos already said this already in June upon BBM’s assumption to power.
“Team of Rivals”, she explained, was already practiced by his father, the late president Marcos, Sr. Classic example, she stressed, was the case of former senator Kid Tatad.
Tatad, per Imee, was a known critic of his father. But when the elder Marcos assumed the presidency in December 1965, he picked Tatad as his Minister of Information.
But history-wise, “Team of Rivals” was started and popularized by the late genius US president Abraham Lincoln. Former US president Barack Obama followed suit.
Hence, coaxing BBM to ax Valderrama is an “unwell” move. It ain’t the solution to the sugar crisis.
So, why not trust the wisdom of the appointing authority – the President himself?/PN
