DA roots for Serafica as new chief of SRA

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol is still rooting for Hermenegildo Serafica to take over the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) even if the latter has recently been linked to the hiring of supposed overpaid consultants.

Right now, the sugar industry stakeholders are calling on Serafica and other board members of the SRA to disclose their participation in the hiring of overpaid consultant that led to the resignation of administrator Ana Rosario Paner.

The huge salaries of consultants at the SRA had drawn the ire of no less than President Duterte.

A reliable source told reporters that Serafica, who is the top choice to replace Paner as the new SRA administrator, allegedly played a role in the hiring the process of these consultants, which earned the ire of Duterte.

Despite this, Piñol said that he has not withdrawn his recommendation on Serafica’s appointment, while also acknowledging that it is likely that the latter and another SRA board member, Roland Beltran, were involved in the hiring of these consultants.

“But they are also the ones who complained about it. At first, they signed it because they weren't clearly briefed about the contract,” Piñol said on Tuesday.

The source said particularly said that the hiring of the consultant is above board.

“If Paner was criticized because of that, then Serafica should be kicked out as well. Hinanapan nila ng butas (ang current chief) eh kasabwat pala (si serafica), if ever they find that very illegal,” he said.