THE National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP), headed by its president Enrique D. Rojas, expressed its strong endorsement of the senatorial bid of former Negros Occidental Third District Representative Albee Benitez and enjoined all sugarcane industry stakeholders to support his candidacy.
In a special hybrid virtual and luncheon meeting called last Friday, March 5, 2021 by NFSP President Enrique D. Rojas with all NFSP member planters associations and cooperatives all over the Philippines, the oldest planters federation in the country passed a unanimous resolution expressing such sentiments. The resolution was moved by Director Manuel H. Puey and was unanimously seconded.
Recently, there have been moves not only in Negros but all over the Visayas calling for Benitez to run for senator in the coming May 2022 elections.
NFSP’s resolution said that, during his nine years in office from 2010 up to 2019 as Negros Occidental Third District representative, Benitez had exhibited exemplary leadership skills in uniting the Visayas block of representatives.
“In his three terms in the House of Representatives, the former congressman has distinguished himself as a steadfast champion in defending the sugar industry against all adverse issues and concerns, and as a staunch advocate in promoting the sugar industry’s welfare, highlighted by his primary authorship of the landmark Sugarcane Industry Development Act,” the resolution further stated.
NFSP said the sugar industry needs somebody like Benitez who can champion the industry’s welfare in the Senate.
The sugar industry is made up of about 80,000 sugar farmers and 700,000 sugar workers in (28 sugar-producing provinces of the country.
About five million Filipinos directly and indirectly depend on the sugar industry for their livelihood.
“If the five million sugar industry dependents and their families will collectively and actively support and campaign for the senatorial bid of former congressman Benitez, the industry can achieve this golden opportunity of electing another champion to the Philippine Senate this coming May 2022 elections,” NFSP emphasized. (PR)