• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Malacañang yesterday announced the designation of Pablo Luis Azcona as the new head of the Sugar Regulatory Administration, replacing fellow Negrense David Thaddeus Alba, who resigned from the post for “health reasons.”
Prior to his present post, Azcona, whose appointment took effect April 20, served as SRA board member representing the sector of sugarcane planters.
Azcona’s rise as SRA chief was welcomed by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, and the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters.
“That’s good, again, we have always wanted a Negrense to head the SRA,” said Lacson, who is also hopeful that another Negrense will replace Azcona as a representative of sugar planters in the SRA.
Ferrer, the personal adviser of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Western Visayas, also hailed the appointment of Azcona, as he hopes that “he will do what is best for the sugar industry.”
The National Federation of Sugarcane Planters also congratulated Azcona for his new appointment. “We are happy that another Negrense now occupies the top post at SRA,” NFSP president Enrique Rojas, said in a statement.
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, Rojas added.
With Paul at the helm of SRA, we expect that he will initiate programs which can further improve the industry, particularly the production of the planters, he further said.
Rojas said that they are hoping Azcona will introduce interventions which can mitigate the impact of the upcoming dry season on our crops.*
