The United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED) has issued a manifesto of support to the mounting calls for Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to seriously consider vying for the presidency in the May 2022 polls.
UNIFED, in its manifesto issued Wednesday, August 11, said it believes that Duterte-Carpio possess the qualities that a leader must have to unify the country, especially in these challenging times, and at the same time, continue and improve on the gains made as a nation.
“Mayor Sara has shown her mettle in governance, even outside of Davao. We have seen her courage and we are certain that she has the political will to effect change that will benefit our government and the people,” UNIFED said.
Duterte-Carpio has embraced advocacies that gained her admiration from various sectors, in particular for her programs that support women and children and empowering the marginalized, it said
Her high performance rating as local chief executive suggests that she is a good leader who can replicate the advances made at the national level, UNIFED added.
“We strongly believe that among the presidentiables, Mayor Sara is the candidate who will have the sugar industry’s interest at heart as her father, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte had, by supporting and enabling the agriculture sector in achieving food self-sufficiency,” UNIFED said.
The sugar industry continues to be one of the major drivers of the country’s growth by contributing over P95 billion to the nation’s coffers, UNIFED said.
However, the industry gets very little appreciation and support from economic managers that view the agricultural sector’s contribution lightly, it added.
The threat of sugar liberalization, smuggling and lack of support for modernization efforts are just among the problems that still beset the sugar industry, it said.
“All these we take into consideration in choosing the leader that we are convinced, will provide us assurance and will continue to look after the welfare of the more than five million industry stakeholders all over the country,” UNIFED said.
They believe the Davao mayor will ensure the survival and sustainability of the sugar industry, it added.
“It was in Davao that President Duterte empowered the industry to wage battle against the High Fructose Corn Sugar (HFCS) and it will be in Davao again that we will get that assurance for continued support,” UNIFED said.
“She may be her father’s daughter, but Mayor Sara has never abused this privilege and has in fact shown independence in her decision-making even when it is contrary to that made by the present leadership. We are also convinced that she is the best candidate to further improve our foreign relations,” it added.
She continues to be ambivalent to the idea of running for the presidency but they believe that if she sees and hears the plea of the Filipino as a nation, she will find that resolve to declare her candidacy, UNIFED said.*