“Transparency is the antidote to hypocrisy.” — Britt Merrick
More than two years after allegations of mascobado production malpractice, yet the Alter Trade Philippines, Inc. has remained silent. I firmly believe that ATPI does not need a challenge to come out in the open and belie every allegation against it, as far as its production of mascobado is concerned. To think that Alter Trade is the pioneer of the alternative trading relationship it has built in the past 37 years, with mascaobado as its flagship product, reaching different parts of Asia and Europe, to date.
For clarity’s sake yet with urgency, Alter Trade is called once again, especially the top management and leadership of Alter Trade Philippines Inc. to come out in public and officially declare and dispel allegations of manufacturing malpractice of mascobado. Norma Mugar, being the head – the Chairman of the Board, must be on top of the situation and responsibly deny allegations hurled against her organization whose reputation it has built as an alternative trading organization traverses two generations.
‘SOUND OF SILENCE’
Sadly, amidst mounting allegations, Alter Trade remains silent, that many warn it is becoming more serious as its fate hangs by a thread. Such silence is sharply inimical to the reputation and recognition it built as a pro-people organization, especially the marginal farmers and small producers. It is presumed that its other partners are now uncertain and confused and puts the relationship it built is highly at risk. They do not expect that they will be implicated as alternative trading organizations that facilitate producers’ products supported by their consumer members. All parties involved, with ATPI leading the pack, must protect its reputation and avoid losing market out of consumers’ distrust.
I’m sure that ATPI partners abroad are aware of this issue hounding its operation, and existence as a whole, and that certain steps are being taken in helping ferreting out the truth in this “mystery”. The voice or the action of the partners-consumers abroad will significantly help in clearing clouds of doubts. One doable measure they can undertake is to persuade Alter Trade to stop being silent and issue an official statement or undertake their own investigation. Allowing ATPI to remain silent does not speak well of fair trade and people to people relationship in the name of the small producers of whom they adhere to provide welfare as its core mission.
INNOCENCE OR GUILT?
Alter Trade’s continued silence and inaction against the allegations may well be perceived as guilt, and that it will not allow it to persist. As a known pioneer of fair trade relationship, significantly contributing to rural development in the province, ATPI has initiated, developed and solidified its position as the trading arm of people’s products, not only domestically but more importantly, internationally. And such conspicuous silence raises questions of responsibility and accountability, given the painstaking reputation it built for two generations.
Doubts now ripple repercussions among its small producer partners and other partners and stakeholders triggering another possible severance of partnership built over decades. Losing trust and confidence will be the usual suspects among these partners, including partner consumers abroad, and the ethical fair trade practices including organic farming will be put in question. In this light, the partnership bond will weaken and eventually be lost. For other actors, the integrity of this “poor man’s sugar” supply chain will be hounded by more doubts.
Needless to say, the burden is now left to Alter Trade to prove its innocence. It must do something somewhere at the soonest time it possibly can. If it remains silent, clouds of doubt will thicken and threads of suspicion will get more entangled. This is tantamount to guilt – this is not the way Alter Trade wants to be known for much more to its partner producers and consumers.
LITANY OF CALL OR DEAFENING SILENCE
Alter Trade Philippines, Inc. persistence of deafening silence is larger than its own life and current public perception will lapse and get worse. Its organizational character, ethical practices and moral and upright leadership is now put to the real test. And, failure to respond not only risks its solid partnership built for decades but also the possibility of losing its alternative market under its so called fair trade and people to people relationship established by its flagship product – “poor man’s sugar” – the mascobado sugar.
High stake, high risk. It is transparency and accountability or its existence.*
