Sugar leaders Aurelio Valderamma and Manuel Lamata (l-r)*
“If there is someone to be blamed for the low price of sugar at the start of the milling season, we should look at the very people who have been agitating the market through their grandstanding.”
That was the statement of Manuel Lamata, United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED) chairman, on Sunday, Oct 12, who lashed out at Aurelio Valderamma, Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations Inc. (CONFED) president, for an open letter against Sugar Regulatory Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona over the low price of sugar at the start of this milling season.
“I feel this was all orchestrated because up until they started talking of importation, over importation, over supply, the market was quiet and we were expecting better prices than what we saw last week,” Lamata said in a press statement.
Lamata said he has faith in the leadership of Azcona who, “despite his young age, has shown wisdom more than this pretentious sugar leader whom we all know has an axe to grind, not just against the SRA administrator but probably against anybody who will get appointed to SRA because of his embarrassing short stint as a member of the Sugar Board.”
“I have always reminded Paul (Azcona) to be very careful in dealing with CONFED for as long as Valderrama is at its helm because he has time and again shown that he cannot be trusted and will attack SRA at any given opportunity”, Lamata said.
“That open letter was not a knee-jerk reaction to the low price of sugar and molasses. That person was obviously looking for the perfect timing to lash back and blame Paul for not getting his desired price, just like a petulant child,” he added.
Valderrama claimed he is concerned about the “worsening” state of the sugar industry all because of the price drop in the first week of milling, Lamata said.
“Yes, we are all disappointed about the price as we are all planters. But that is not enough to slam an administrator who has made several innovative programs in SRA. An administrator who focused on upgrading SRA’s research facilities to aid our farmers in increasing productivity. “ Lamata said.
He also pointed out that Azcona has inked collaborative projects with foreign partners to help the country’s sugar industry become globally competitive.
Azcona has created task forces to combat diseases, particularly the RSSI and crafted policies that boosted farm gate prices in the past crop years, he added.
He also said Azcona is the first SRA administrator to issue a policy on molasses importation.
“All that the administrator did in the past two years was beneath this so-called industry leader who based his assessment of our beloved sugar industry on the prices that he wants to prevail”, Lamata said.
“I know Paul (Azcona) can fight his own battles but I cannot take this sitting down because up until last week’s low sugar price, our SRA Administrator has done so much for this industry,” he added.
If I recall, SRA has already made pronouncements that there will be no talks of sugar importation until mid-next year and only depending on production volume, Lamata said.
Azcona also announced in August during the Philsutech Convention that all sugar produced this crop year will be classified as B, unfortunately, CONFED and NFSP were absent, he said.
“These leaders had been consulted about the last importation order, and they knew full well that the refineries we have cannot comply with the refined sugar requirements needed by the bottlers, the confectioners and the likes,” Lamata said.
“That importation program they are talking about was discussed months ago and went through consultation with various stakeholders. Yet, they kept mum for three months and when milling was about to open, started talking of importation which they know full well is bound to influence market prices”, he said.
“Worse, this author of the open letter even participated in the importation program through his association, the Vicmico Planters MPC,” he added.
“It’s time that SRA sees through these people who vowed they will collaborate and support the leadership. I think it’s time for SRA to severe ties with people who can’t and will never see any good in anyone other than themselves. It’s time that SRA will stop working with ingrates and hypocrites,” Lamata said.
VALDERRAMA HITS BACK
The sugar industry, long a cornerstone of our agricultural and economic landscape, is under threat – not just from global market pressures, but from within, Valderrama said.
Valderamma, in an open letter to the public issued on Sunday, in response to Lamata said , said “Over the past several years, we’ve watched as respected organizations and federations have been dismantled or weakened – not because of mismanagement or lack of relevance, but because of a consistent and aggressive campaign of bullying and intimidation led by a single individual, Manuel Lamata of UNIFED”.
“This person does not challenge systems through vision, leadership, or policy. Instead, he targets people personally, sowing fear in meetings, and silencing experienced voices through harassment and humiliation. He thrives not on unity, but on division – using power not to build, but to break,” he added.
“What’s most alarming is not just the behavior itself, but how long it has been allowed to continue. Silence, fear, and complicity have created a space where one person can systematically undermine decades of collective effort, simply because few are willing to speak out,” Valderrama said.
Valderrama said public deserves to know that the sugar industry’s decline in institutional strength is not accidental.
“It is the result of a calculated effort to centralize influence by eliminating opposition – not through ideas, but through intimidation,” he said.
“We owe it to the farmers, workers, consumers, and future leaders of this industry to foster a culture of respect, accountability, and inclusion – not fear”, Valderrama said.
“To those still within these organizations: You are not alone. And to the public: Ask the hard questions. Demand better. Because no one – no matter how loud, connected, or intimidating – should be allowed to bully an entire industry into silence,” he said.
“Let’s reclaim our voice, and with it, the future of sugar,” Valderrama added.*