Department of Agriculture (DA) Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban is now the officer-in-charge of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), Malacañang confirmed Wednesday, April 19.
Enrique Rojas, National Federation of Sugarcane Planters president, said the designation of Panganiban as OIC of the SRA sends mixed signals to the sugar industry stakeholders.
On one hand, it assures that Malacañang is concerned over the vacancy in SRA’s top post, he said.
“On the other hand, Panganiban’s designation raises eyebrows, considering his direct involvement in the highly irregular awarding of import rights to three hand-picked traders, and the questionable release of imported sugar which arrived prior to the issuance of the sugar order allowing its importation”, Rojas said.
Nonetheless, the NFSP grants Panganiban all the benefit of the doubts, while the propriety and legality of all matters relating to Sugar Order No. 6 is still up for debate, he added.
“We hope that, in his stint as OIC-SRA Administrator, he will adopt a consultative approach and he will involve all stakeholders in policy-making functions of the SRA. We hope that he will be fair and he will not display any favoritism in his treatment of all stakeholders,” Rojas said.
The United Sugar Producers Federation has no problems with Panganiban’s appointment, UNIFED president Manuel Lamata said.
“In fact it’s good for the industry because Usec Panganiban is close to the president so if the industry needs anything we will have a direct line,” Lamata said.
Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama Jr., Confederation of Sugar Producers’ Associations president, said “we are hoping and praying that the right person will be appointed as SRA administrator as soon as possible”.
Panganiban will serve as the OIC of the SRA while the president has yet to name its new head, Secretary Cheloy Garafil of the Presidential Communications Office told reporters.
He will head the SRA until a new administrator is appointed, Garafil added.
David Alba’s resignation as SRA acting administrator took effect Saturday, April 15.*