Bacolod City - Tatak Kalamay, a multi-sector group composed of sugar industry stakeholders in Negros Occidental, will support the presidential bet with a proven track record for supporting the sugar industry, lead convenor Emilio Yulo said.

Yulo, however, said that they will wait for the filing of Certificates of Candidacy in October, before they decide on the presidential candidate they will support, in consultation with their members, similar to what they did during the 2016 senatorial elections.

Earlier, the United Sugar Producers Federation issued a manifesto of support for the presidential bid of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, that was signed by representatives of the 11 associations under its umbrella.

This was after some Negros Occidental mayors also expressed their support for Duterte-Carpio, after a series of meetings with the Alliance and Broadcasting Committee – Padayona Inday Sara Movement, led by its convenor, retired Col. William Senoron.

Yulo said "it is still premature to openly support a candidate if we are not even sure that the candidate is running".

We know that every election time, everybody will have the view that they support the industry. We will take a look at their track records. For newbies, we will look at their stand on other issues," he added.

As to the support of Unifed for Duterte-Carpio, Yulo said they respect its decision, stressing also that "it is the collective stand of their association or federation".

Unifed said they believe that Duterte-Carpio "possesses the qualities that a leader must have to unify the country, especially in these challenging times, and at the same time, continue and improve on the gains we've made as a nation."

Unifed said they see the Davao chief executive as the candidate who will support the interest of the sugar industry.
(Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star, photo courtesy of Philippine News Agency)