I am saddened by the report that reached me about the two factions in the government-sequestered Coconut Industry Investment Fund-Oil Mills Group (CIIF) that are now squabbling on who should lead the government-sequestered company.
CIIF has a special place in my heart. After having been part of the CIIF family during its glory days when the company was performing very well under Ambassador Eduardo Conjuangco prior to its sequestration by the government, to its going under water and on the brink of collapse after its sequestration, and to my being involved in its rehabilitation, the news about the squabbles between the two factions now happening at CIIF somehow pricked my heart.
Like a father who nurtured CIIF back to life when banks were no longer extending loans to the beleaguered company, and when it was saddled with losses of over P1.5 billion, turning its balance sheet out of the red and bringing back CIIF to life entailed so much sacrifices on my part and the members of the CIIF community.
As the former president of CIIF, it worries me that the squabbles between the two factions would adversely affect CIIF, and eventually its viability. And it worries me even more that, unless the two factions at CIIF, who I understand are both trusted by President Duterte, could come to a reasonable settlement of their issues, the gains of the Duterte administration in the areas of job generation and industrialization could be adversely affected.
My life at CIIF
My involvement with CIIF started in July 2009, when I was tapped by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to help resuscitate CIIF. The company was then at the brink of collapse. But by the end of the same year, with God’s guidance and the support of the CIIF family, we were able to turn-around the company’s balance sheet from negative to positive. By 2010 we had the comfort of running a fully recovered company. During the same year, however, I would learn about my having cancer. But even during that year, after undergoing eight cycles of chemotherapy, I would go back to the office after every cycle, to ensure that all measures to facilitate the full recovery of CIIF were being religiously done. But again, with God’s grace and in answer to our prayers, I was later declared cancer-free. But nevertheless, in 2013, after making CIIF afloat again, I left the company for my long awaited rest.
Consider the interest of the company and the coconut farmers
CIIF will forever have a place in my heart. Indeed, those years were most trying. But the support of the officers and employees of CIIF for me during my watch was inspiring. And it is for this reason that I would like to give this piece of advice to the squabbling factions at CIIF. Talk your differences reasonably. Think of the welfare of the country’s coconut farmers. And most important, think of the bigger agenda of President Duterte for the nation. The squabbling at CIIF will only distract the president from his other more important concerns.
As once the father of CIIF, take the wisdom of a 75-year-old man who spent meaningful years with CIIF during its most trying times. Should my advice be needed, I will just be a phone call away, if only to help CIIF again in its current woes.
After all, as the Tibetan leader Lobsang Tenzin once said, “Communication will bring understanding and understanding will cause harmonious relationships which can establish peace and stability.”
Dr. Arranza is the chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries and Fight Illicit Trade, a broad-based, multisectoral movement intended to protect consumers, safeguard government revenues and shield legitimate industries from the ill effects of smuggling.