Unifed joins call for Sara Duterte to run (file photo)

Negros, Philippines – The United Sugar Producers Federation (Unifed) of Negros Occidental, expressed their full support on the candidacy of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, if she decided to run in the 2022 Presidential election.

Unifed is among the biggest sugar groups in the country led by its Federation President Negrense Manuel Lamata.

In a Manifesto of Support issued by Unifed president Lamata and eleven chairs of various sugar associations under the federation, states that Duterte-Carpio possesses the leadership qualities that can further unify the country, especially in these challenging times.

She can likewise sustain the gains that we have achieved as a nation.

Unifed sees the Davao chief executive as the fitting candidate for the top post who can keep the interest of the sugar industry at heart.

“We strongly believe that among the presidential aspirant, Mayor Sara is the candidate who can advance the industry’s interest at heart, as her father, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte had where he supported and enabled the agriculture sector to achieve food sufficiency,” the statement said.

“The sugar industry stays as one of the major drivers of our country’s economic growth by contributing over P95 billion to our nation’s coffers. Yet, we get very little appreciation and support from economic managers that view the agricultural sector’s contribution lightly,” Unifed said.

The threat of sugar liberalization, sugar smuggling, and lack of support for the industry’s modernization efforts are just among the problems that still beset our industry, adding that these were the considerations taken on why the federation leaders chose Duterte-Carpio as their bet for the presidential post.

“It is this and more that encouraged Unifed to issue this Manifesto of Support for Mayor Sara to run for President as she represents the ideals of a credible leader who is capable of performing a major role to ensure the survival and sustainability of our sugar industry,” the group said.

“It was in Davao that President Rodrigo Duterte has empowered the industry by waging war against the use of High Fructose Corn Sugar (HFCS) and it will be in Davao again that we will get the same degree of assurance for their continued support,” Unifed said.

“She may be her father’s daughter, but Mayor Sara has never taken advantage of such privilege as shown in her decision-making which sometimes may run in contrast to the decisions made by the present top leadership. We are also convinced that she is the best candidate to further improve our foreign relations,” said the group.

While Mayor Sara continues to be ambivalent to the idea of running for the presidency, “but Unifed believes that if she sees and hears the plea of the Filipinos as a nation, she will find that resolve to declare her candidacy,” Unifed further urged.

Meanwhile, Duterte and Marcos continue to lead various political survey, including the recently conducted survey by radio station DzRH.

In a survey from July 24 to 31, showed that Duterte led the lists of possible presidential bets with a 25.4 percent rating. Marcos came second with 17.7 percent rating.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno in third place with 11.2 percent, followed by Senators Grace Poe and Manny Pacquiao with 10 percent each. Vice President Leni Robredo came in fifth place at 8.3 percent.

The survey has 7,500 respondents nationwide and a margin of error of +/-1.13 percent.