3rd official to resign over import order mess
THE chief of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), administrator Hermenegildo Serafica, has formally tendered his resignation and President Marcos Jr. has accepted it, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said yesterday.
Serafica submitted his resignation on August 10, the same day Malacañang said that Marcos, SRA chairman, did not sign a resolution allowing the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar.
Aside from Serafica, the other signatories are former agriculture undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian, board member Roland Beltran representing the millers’ sector, and Aurelio Gerardo Valderama Jr. representing the planters’ sector.
Beltran resigned on August 14, citing “health reasons.” His resignation was confirmed by the Palace on August 15.
Separate letters, both dated August 15 and signed by Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez, were sent to Serafica and Beltran to inform them that the President has accepted their resignation.
Sebastian resigned as agriculture undersecretary on August 11. On Monday during a joint meeting of two House committees, Sebastian admitted he signed the importation order without the President’s consent, and said his decision was based on “a clear indication of the rapidly diminishing supply of sugar.”
Sebastian was undersecretary for operations, and chief of staff to the agriculture secretary who is Marcos.
Valderrama, who was named SRA board member only on August 6, said he is leaving his fate to the President.
Investigations on the botched sugar importation are ongoing with the aim of determining if anyone should be held accountable for the Sugar Order No. 4 which the Palace has called “illegal.”
Marcos has said there is enough sugar supply until October. The President said importation may be considered at the latter part of the year but for a smaller amount or about 150,000 metric tons.
DIRECT IMPORTATION
Marcos said his administration is looking at allowing food manufacturers to directly import or buy sugar from suppliers overseas, subject to approval of the SRA, to address current supply and price concerns.
The President on Monday met with the members of the Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers Inc. (PCFMI) to determine how the government can increase the supply of quality sugar for food manufacturing to protect local jobs.
Marcos said the sugar supply and importation issues have become a “worrisome problem” as the government pursues ways to find a balance between ensuring affordable supply and jobs of sugar industry workers.
He said the government is studying several measures that can help increase supply while keeping the prices down, including asking traders to bring down the prices of the commodity.
“Hopefully, we can get some concessions with the traders so that at least the pricing will be reasonable. The concern is the supply right now. I’ll make sure that there is sufficient supply in the country so that you can operate at full capacity,” he said.
Among those who attended the consultation meeting with Marcos were Rodriguez, Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Presidential Management Staff Secretary Maria Zenaida Angping, National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, and Presidential Legal Counsel Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile.
HOUSE PROBE
The joint committee on good government and public accountability and on agriculture yesterday moved the continuation of the briefing on the sugar issue to Monday next week from Thursday this week in light of the resignation of sugar officials.
Bulacan Rep.Florida Robes, chair of the committee on good government and public accountability, said the briefing is being undertaken for lawmakers to get to the bottom of issues hounding the SRA, particularly on strengthening local sugar production.
The joint panel is planning to turn the next hearing into a motu proprio inquiry in aid of legislation but the move may pose legal questions since House panels can only do so seven days after rules are published.
Under the rules, a motu proprio action can be taken only upon the majority vote of all members and with the approval of the committee on rules. This was why the the joint panel had to hold a simple briefing last Monday, to avoid technicalities as lawmakers seek clarification from the committee on rules.
LIABILITY
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the resignation of the signatories to Sugar Order No. 4 (SO4) is a “welcome” move but that does not free them from any liability resulting from violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Anti-Smuggling Act.
Zubiri has urged the Senate Blue Ribbon committee to conduct an investigation on the unauthorized issuance of SO4.
“At the very least, there’s usurpation of authority,” he said.
Zubiri also questioned the need to import another 300,000 MT of sugar even as there are still around 127,000 MT of imported sugar “languishing” in warehouses.
Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito said the next SRA administrator should have compassion for the sugar industry and farmers, otherwise the two laws he authored — the Sugarcane Industry Development Act of 2015 and the Anti-Smuggling Act of 2016 — “will all go to waste.”
“Perhaps the SRA should rethink its current thrust, step back from the pivot towards excessive importation and prioritize our sugar farmers,” Ejercito said.
He said too much importation leaves the door wide open for smugglers. — With Wendell Vigilia and Raymond Africa