BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A Negrense has been recommended to replace Herminigildo Serafica as head of the Sugar Regulatory Administration.
Manuel Lamata, president of the United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED), however, refused to identify the Negrense, whom he recommended to President-Elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as the next SRA head.
The term of Serafica ends June 30.
Negros Occidental 5th District Representative-elect Emilio “Dino” Yulo also pushed for a Negrense to be the incoming SRA administrator.
We need a Negrense to head the SRA. I think that is more important than personalities, Yulo, who once served as board member of SRA, said.
Lamata also said that he already informed President Marcos Jr. on the move of Serafica to import more 300,000 metric tons of sugar.
Serafica cited the lack of sugar supply in the country, due to the devastation brought about by typhoon Odette on the sugar-producing Negros Island, as a justification for sugar importation.
The Sugar Order Number 3 issued by SRA to import 200,000 metric tons of sugar in March this year, was challenged in courts by sugar producers and cooperatives.
This could be a “Morning Deal” because the importation in March was dubbed as a “Midnight Deal,” Lamata pointed out.
He maintained the importation of sugar was only intended for beverage and soft drink companies.*
