• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Department of Agriculture (DA) Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban is now the officer-in-charge of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).
This was disclosed on Tuesday, April 19, by Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil, who told Malacañang based reporters that Panganiban will serve as the OIC of SRA, while President Ferdinand Marcos has yet to name a new head for the sugar agency.
SRA chief David John Thaddeus Alba stepped down from his post due to “his worsening health condition.” His resignation took effect April 15.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo III (5th District, Negros Occ.), along with sugar industry leaders, are hopeful that Alba will be replaced by another Negrense.
The name of Negrense SRA board member Paul Azcona was floated as a possible successor of Alba.
In August last year, Alba replaced Hermenegildo Serafica, who resigned as SRA administrator in the wake of the unauthorized signing of Sugar Order (SO) 4, a resolution allowing the importation of 300,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar.
The SRA is a government-owned and controlled corporation attached to the DA, which President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. currently heads.* with PNA reports
