Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on email
Email

Get your facts straight – Azcona to Rojas

• GILBERT P. BAYORAN

Sugar Regulatory Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona issued a statement on Wednesday, saying that he took offense in the claim that the SRA’s “no importation announcement till end of harvest” was ‘misleading’.

I hope NFSP (National Federation of Sugarcane Planters) will be able to substantiate their claims as these kinds of accusations show how warped and distorted their state of mind is, Azcona said in a statement.

That was the reaction of Azcona to the recent statement of NFSP president Enrique Rojas, when the latter retracted his initial statement of support for the no importation until after harvest pronouncement issued by both the SRA and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel.

“It’s funny that I even sent a letter of thanks for NFSP’s support to our initial announcement, but unlike Mr. Rojas, I will not retract the same as I think it was done in good faith in the beginning,” he added.

“Mr. Rojas claimed, we (SRA) were not ‘totally candid’ in our pronouncements for failing to mention a previous importation that came in, when it is all there in the figures they claimed was their basis for their accusations,” Azcona said.

He further stated that the group of Rojas could easily explain these pronouncements if they did not snub the invitation for a stakeholders’ consultative meeting.

During the meeting on August 6, Azcona said refiners and mills representatives admitted that they cannot assure the government of ample refined sugar by the end of November, to ensure a balanced supply.

He added that the refiners and mills representatives later agreed to import refined sugar, as they cannot commit to produce enough refined sugar by the end of November

This was no secret, and they could have explained this to their planters-members, if they care to be part of the discussion and decision-making policy, Azcona pointed out.

The SRA chief also reported that the raw sugar and stock production dropped by 73.46 percent, and 31. 26 percent, respectively, while refined sugar and stock production also reduced by 97.77 percent, and 37.23 percent, respectively, including for local and imported, as of October 20.

While he has been very patient with these so-called sugar leaders, Azcona said “it is clear they are nothing else but consistent detractors of this administration.”*

ARCHIVES

Read Article by date

February 2025
MTWTFSS
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
2425262728 

Get your copy of the Visayan Daily Star everyday!

Avail of the FREE 30-day trial.