PCGG assures coco farmers in wake of UCPB revamp

The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) assured yesterday that the government would work for the protection of the coconut farmers in United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) now that it has taken over management control of the bank.

"We’ll ensure that (PCGG) policies are implemented at the UCPB ... We hope to improve the programs for the coco farmers as envisioned by the Arroyo administration," said PCGG Commissioner Victoria Avena.

Last Friday, the government took over management control of the UCPB by installing its 14 nominees to the bank’s 15-man board. They replaced the nominees of former President Estrada.

This was brought about by the ruling of the Sandiganbayan in December 2001, declaring the coco levy shares as public. The court has also upheld the rights of the PCGG to vote its shares at the UCPB.

Avena and fellow PCGG commissioner Ruben Carranza Jr. were among the nominees of the Arroyo administration.

This despite the earlier pronouncement of PCGG Chairman Haydee Yorac that, if she had her way, she did not want any PCGG commissioner to sit on the board of any sequestered company.

Yorac, herself, has turned down an offer of Malacañang to occupy one of the five seats of the PCGG in the 15-man board of the San Miguel Corp. (SMC), citing "conflict of interest."

Avena noted that their assumption of the UCPB posts was a strategy of the PCGG to oversee the bank that was set up using the coco levy fund.

"Chairman Yorac must be on top sa bargaining position para hindi ma-compromise ang policies (of the PCGG). We were placed there because we are the real workhorses and lieutenants who guard our policies," she added.

Avena said that while all the new nominees to the UCPB board would all work to implement the visions of the Arroyo administration, it would be better if the PCGG would have its people there.

"We are the grassroot guardians ... Our obligation is to ensure that the policies (of the PCGG) are really implemented," she added.