Thursday, December 01, 2005

Entrepreneurial Farmer

The P2.8 Billion Fertilizer Scam
Ambrosio R. Villorente
“The Filipino farmers are more often taken for a ride.” For the reason of “farm modernization” some P3 billion was budgeted for it. But look how the politicians, the Department of Agriculture (DA) officials and some “foundations” spent at least part of the money.
The latest anomaly uncovered is the P152.2 million fertilizer money diverted to some “foundations”. Malacañang Palace, three months before the May 2004 election released the huge sum of P152.2 million to 105 members of the House of Representatives. Those congressmen also passed their respective allocations to their respective favored foundations and other non-government organizations.
In six (6) congressional districts in the Bicol Region, government auditors uncovered that P60.7 million was given to these districts, most of the amount was used to purchase liquid fertilizer. According to the auditors, materials purchased were over priced from 800 percent to 1,300 percent thereby skimming P49 million through overpricing.
According to the report, a bottle of liquid fertilizer of 300 ml bottle was paid P800.00 per bottle where the same kind of fertilizer and size of bottle was available at only P58.50 per bottle in the market.
Malacañang released P728 million on February 3, 2005. The P152.5 million was part of the amount released some three (3) months before the May 10, 2004 presidential election. From the first release, there were three other releases made at a total of P2.806 billion made in February and April 2004 upon the request of former Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante of the DA.
The audit examination is so far focused on the first release of P728 million. Other releases are not yet covered. It is probable and maybe likely that worst anomalies are made in the use of those public money. The biggest single release was P1.102 billion made on February 3, 2004 – according to report, Central Luzon to CARAGA regions enlisted foundations to purchase fertilizer. Only Cordillera Administrative Regions, Region I and Region II did not employ non-government organizations in the procurement of fertilizer.
In Southern Tagalog, P45 million went to foundations, P26.5 million to LGU and P12 million was direct purchased of the total P83.5 million. In Region 10 (Misamis – Lanao), foundations got P41.95 million and P16 million to LGU’s. In CARAGA, the LGUs got P18 million while P13 million was through foundations.
The report further revealed that even some congressmen who did not request for that money were given. A good example is Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri of Bukidnon was allocated P5 million. Upon knowing it, Rep. Zubiri realigned it for road construction. “Liquid fertilizer will just evaporate without trace”, pointed out Zubiri.
Cong. Teodoro Locsin, Jr. of Makati was also given allocation. Cong. Cynthia Villar of Las Piñas was also allocated but refused it with a sour note, “my district is all concrete”. Mr. Bolante may have the idea of fertilizing cement in Makati and Las Piñas to produce mold.
But, for one thing, did Mr. Bolante ever requested technical advice from his numerous agriculture specialists in the DA? Liquid fertilizer is most appropriate for ornamental plants and leafy vegetables. Considering that money was for “Gintong Masaganang Ani” to increase rice production, majority of the people are led to believe that P2.8 billion was used in aid of election and reelection. That was one way the most depressed farmers were taken for a ride. The top government officials used the farmers to get the money, but did not actually reach the farmers.
That DA officials and company cheated the farmers, the consumers who maybe benefited of high quality and cheap farm products should that P2.8 was actually used for agricultural production may also have been benefited.
Last week, Deputy Speaker Gary Salapuddin and Cong. Douglas Cagas of Davao del Sur had requested the Senate to stop its inquiry on the fertilizer scam. House majority Leader Prospero Nograles also suggested members of the House of Representatives to account where they put their pork barrel. He also suggested for the Senators to do the same.
But why stop the Senate Investigation of this P2.8 agriculture fund scam? Are the congressman hiding something? This present government has many things to hide that is why trust and confidence of the people are diminishing daily. The recent survey shows six (6) of every 10 Filipinos wanted PGMA to step out of Malacañang. /MP

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