NEGROS Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is hoping that another Negrense will be appointed to succeed David John Thaddeus Alba as administrator of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).
"I'm partial to [the idea] that a Negrense would be appointed. The province is the biggest sugar producer in the country. I do hope that another Negrense will take the place of Alba. I don't have anyone in mind, and I leave that to the discretion of the appointing authority," Lacson said.
"I wish him well as he cited health reasons for his resignation. I hope he will overcome whatever health issues he is facing. During his time as administrator of the SRA, the sugar farmers were very happy," the governor said of Alba.
In a related development, Alba denied rumors about the reasons behind his resignation as administrator of the SRA.
Alba, in a statement on Saturday, March 25, said to "dispel any other interpretations and speculation regarding my resignation and to make it clear that it stems from purely health-related reasons."
"Had I been in better health, I would gladly have continued with the responsibility entrusted to me by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.," he said.
Alba thanked Marcos "for the opportunity to serve under his administration. I am likewise thankful for his kind consideration and understanding in accepting my resignation due to health considerations."
Alba said, "It has been an honor and privilege to serve our sugar industry as the acting administrator of the SRA."
"In as much as I would like to serve the industry, its stakeholders, the President, and most importantly, the Filipino people, the duties and responsibilities of being the acting administrator have taken a negative toll on my health and family life. I must regrettably resign as the acting administrator in order to preserve my health as well as make a full recovery," he said.
"I wish the next Administrator the best, and I hope that the gains and programs we have achieved for the sugar industry will continue long into the future," he added.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said that his supposedly worsening health condition prompted Alba to step down from his post as the administrator of the SRA.
This after the Agriculture deputy spokesperson Assistant Secretary Rex Estoperez confirmed on Friday, March 24, Alba's resignation.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is the parent agency of the SRA.
The PCO said Alba's resignation will be effective on April 15 to prepare the appointment of his replacement.
A fellow Negrense SRA board member and planters' representative, Pablo Luis Azcona, earlier denied that the SRA chief was a "sacrificial lamb" in the latest sugar mess.
"No, he was not the sacrificial lamb. Administrator Alba decided to resign based on his health. He cannot control his blood pressure. To this day, administrator Alba has not been mentioned or implicated in any of the accusations thrown about in the media," Azcona said.
Alba's resignation came following allegations of state-sponsored sugar smuggling in the DA by Senator Risa Hontiveros.
Hontiveros urged newly resigned Alba to come out and speak his truth on the alleged preferential treatment given to sugar importers and the issue of smuggling plaguing the country.
"We urge Former Administrator Alba to come out and speak his truth...baka kung hindi (If not), you will be left holding the bag," Hontiveros said in a statement issued Saturday, March 25.
"The circumstances of Alba's decision suggest that he might have witnessed how the SRA is only used as a rubber stamp "to legitimize the preferential treatment given to all Asians and the other two importers," Hontiveros said.
Despite the pressure from the DA, she said Alba did not sign the sugar release order for the smuggled sugar in Batangas port.
The senator also questioned the function of SRA if the government would continuously allow traders to violate the agency's guidelines on sugar importation.