Guv, vice guv hail appointment of Negrense as SRA chief

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Both Negros Occidental governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer on Friday welcomed the appointment of another Negrense as acting administrator and chief executive officer of the Sugar Regulatory Administrator (SRA).

A press release from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Friday morning said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Pablo Luis Azcona to the SRA helm. The appointment was dated April 20, 2023.

“That’s good, again, we have always wanted a Negrense to head the SRA,” Lacson said.

Lacson said he hoped that the replacement of Azcona, who is a member of the SRA board representing the planters before his appointment, will also be a Negrense.

Azcona officially replaced former SRA administrator David Alba, who is also a Negrense, who resigned effective April 15, 2023 due to “worsening health condition.”

Alba’s resignation came after the recent controversial importation of 440,000 metric tons of sugar.

Alba, though left his post a month ago, which was temporarily taken over by Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban until Azcona’s appointment.

“Very good,” Ferrer said upon learning of the appointment of Azcona adding that he hoped “he (Azcona) will do what is best for the sugar industry.”

Both Alba and Azcona are from Negros Occidental while another member of the board, Mitza Mangwag, representing the millers’ group on the board, is from Negros Oriental.

The three were recommended by Ferrer who was appointed by President Marcos as his personal adviser for Western Visayas.

In a statement Friday, Enrique Rojas of the National Federation of Sugar Producers said “we congratulate SRA Administrator Paul Azcona for his new appointment, and we are happy that another Negrense now occupies the top post at SRA.”

He added that “while it’s common knowledge in the industry that a certain group pushed for Paul’s appointment, we are confident that his inherent concern for his fellow sugarcane farmers will take precedence over his loyalty to any person or lobby group.”

With Azcona at the helm of SRA, he added that they expect that he will initiate programs that can further improve the industry, particularly the production of the planters.

“We also hope that he will introduce interventions which can mitigate the impact of the upcoming dry season on our crops,” Rojas further said.