SRA exec asked to resign

By: Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Sugar Regulatory Administrator (SRA) Hermenegeldo Serafica is being asked to resign from his post and at the same time make a stand on the planned sugar import liberalization by the government.

Luzon Federation of Sugar Planters president Arnel Toreja on Saturday led the call for Serafica’s resignation.

Toreja joined Tatak Kalamay, an umbrella organization of sugar industry stakeholders here, in a press conference.

He (Serafica) is incompetent, Toreja told reporters here.

Toreja said Serafica failed to implement the Sugar Industry Development Act (SIDA) which is geared to improving the competitiveness of sugar producers as well as extend support services especially to marginal sugar planters.

He said Serafica also failed to come up with a stand on the call of sugar industry stakeholders to stop the planned sugar import liberalization of the government.

Luzon Federation has 12,000 planters-members, he said.

He said Serafica is like the father who does not know how to take care of his family.

“He knows the sugar industry will die if the sugar import liberalization will push through but he has not acted on it until now,” Toreja said.

Meanwhile, Tatak Kalamay spokesman Raymond Montinola, said they are still trying to get a consensus on whether to call for Serafica’s resignation.

For now, they are asking Serafica to come up with a stand on the sugar import liberalization.

Fred Tayo, chairman of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative in the province, said they are also asking Serafica to make a stand on the sugar import liberalization issue.