Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Administrator David John Thaddeus P. Alba has resigned from his post, an official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed on Friday, March 24.

Assistant Secretary Rex Estoperez, deputy spokesperson of the DA, said that the decision of Alba to vacate his post as SRA chief must be respected.

“You know, we in the government come and go, depending on the pleasure also of the appointing authority. Doon sa (In the) Sugar Regulatory Administration, unfortunately, nag-resign si Administrator Alba (Administrator Alba resigned),” he said when asked during a press briefing posted on the Facebook page of PIA Cordillera.

“But I don't know kasi, we have to respect the decision of Administrator Alba kung ano man ang reason niya (whatever his reasons were),” he added.

Estoperez said that he himself has not read the reason that Alba placed in his resignation letter to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., who concurrently heads the agriculture department.

“Hindi ko rin nabasa 'yung resignation pero (I have not read his resignation letter but) we have to respect Administrator Alba for his decision,” he said.

So far, he said, nobody has been tapped to replace Alba, saying somebody from the ranks might take over as SRA chief.
 
“And I'm sure, may makapalit kaagad 'yan, with this right now problem natin sa asukal, coming from the ranks din siguro (And I’m sure he will be immediately replaced, with this problem we have right now on sugar, maybe someone from the ranks). We hope in the next few days, they will announce that,” he said.

As of press time, there is still no word from the Palace about the resignation of Alba.

In August, Alba was appointed by Marcos as acting SRA administrator, replacing former administrator Hermenegildo Serafica who resigned after the chief executive rejected Sugar Order No. 4 signed by former members of the Sugar Regulatory Board.