Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Roxas Twits Bolante

Senator Mar Roxas asked former Undersecretary of Agriculture Jocelyn "Joc Joc" Bolante to stop covering up for the fertilizer scam. "Bolante should now stop covering up for his and his bosses’ role and complicity in the P728 million fertilizer funds suspected to have been diverted to (the) 2004 campaign kitty of (Mrs.) Arroyo and her allies", said Sen. Roxas.

According to Roxas, Joc Joc’s options are getting fewer. Evidence is piling up that he is just inventing his alibi…If I was Joc Joc, I’d tell the truth now, admit everything he knows, and spills the real brains behind it".

Roxas warned the former Agriculture Undersecretary that he could be arrested and detained anew if he continued to be elusive and if he sticks to his fabricated story.

Ms. Maritess Aytona, the alleged Bolante "runner" has surrendered herself to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigating the multi million peso fertilizer fund diversion anomaly. Moreover, a committee witness: Jose Barredo had testified that Aytona who is alleged to report directly to Bolante and who was used by Bolante as conduit with Barredo for recipients of the fertilizer funds.

Bolante will do great honors to himself, his family, and to the Filipinos especially the farmers for whom the fertilizes were intended for if he told the truth, admitted the irregularities in the fertilizer project. His truth will be a great valentine gift to the Filipinos.

Mr. Bolante, according to reports, is now a strong contender for the position of the Provincial Governor of Capiz in the May 10, 2010 local election.

Japanese Government Turns Over Fertilizers

In November 2009, the Japanese government turned over to the Government of the Philippines a total 26,135 metric tons of ammonium sulfate fertilizers. That quantity was valued at 480 million yen. which is equivalent to P220 million, a huge amount of money.

The turn over ceremony was held at the Port of Iloilo, Iloilo City. Japanese Ambassador to the Philippine, His Excellency Makoto Katsura, First Secretary of Agriculture Takehiko Sakota and Third Secretary Shigehiro Matsuda led in the turn over ceremony on the Japanese part. Their Philippine counterparts who received the goods were DA Under-secretary Salvador Salacup, NAFC Deputy Executive Director Maria Luz A. Enriquez and city and provincial officials of Iloilo.

Mitsubishi Corporation which won the supply tender held in Japan is the procurement management agent.

The 2nd fertilizer shipment arrived in Iloilo City on October 2, 2009. It consisted of four (4) shipments. The first shipment was delivered in Davao City on Sept. 9, 2009, and the third and fourth shipments were delivered in Subic in Nov. and December 2009.

The fertilizers are intended for the use of Filipino rice farmers who are using certified and good seeds in areas covered by the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (Rice Program) in Regions 2,3,6,10,and 11.

Five months after the first shipment in Davao, and four months after the second shipment in Iloilo City, there is no announcement. Where are these 480 million yen worth of fertilizer?

The DA officials announced they received it, but until today, no announcement of the whereabouts of the fertilizers and who received it.

The people has the right to know how did the DA distribute the fertilizer.

Aklan is in Region 6 which is one of the priorities for the application of said fertilizer. The DA officials must inform the people what did they do with that Japanese fertilizer. /MP