The private sector has asked the government to focus its P32 billion stimulus package on value-added farm goods such as livestock and fishery, and not just on rice and corn, and said the amount might not be enough to cover the logistics needed to move fish and agricultural goods.
In a letter to Congress, the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) said focusing on productivity in livestock, fishery, export-oriented fruits and vegetables would bring in higher income.
“While the P 32 billion proposed supplemental budget will be of tremendous help to enable the agriculture stakeholders to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic that brought havoc to the industry, we feel it is inadequate and might leave the exclusions of concerns not properly addressed,” PCAFI President Danilo V. Fausto, said.
It is important to allocate a budget for logistics to move fish and agriculture goods, not only in Luzon but in Mindanao, he said.
“A lot of these products are wasted due to the suspension of airline operations, difficulty in the land transport of perishable fruits, vegetables, fish, meat (specifically pork), and including fingerlings. Since these products are highly perishable, they need enhancement for cold chain support (refrigerated trucks),” Fausto said.
A budget for artificial insemination in reproducing livestock and for controlling African swine fever is also important, the PCAFI said.
“There is an obvious slant towards rice and corn. Aside from rice, livestock, fishery, and aqua need help. The ASF task force are running out of kits and lack veterinarians to monitor the livestock industry. There is a need to provide support in a consistent manner not only when disease outbreaks occur,” Fausto said.
The group said equal attention should be provided for the improvement of irrigation systems and fertilizers to sustain and increase crop and vegetable production
In his latest report to Congress, President Rodrigo Duterte said 207 out of 1,634 local government units (LGUs) have accomplished 100 percent payout of emergency assistance in their respective localities.
The report said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has maintained stockpiles of the 409, 520 familiy food packs worth P168 million, other foot items amounting to P315 million and non-food items worth P481 million.
The report also noted that the DSWD was able to address concerns raised many sectors, including "query of some senators" in the implementation of special amelioration programs by creating monitoring teams to work closely with LGUs, and several concerned agencies of government, including Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The report also provides measures for other sectors affected by the lockdown due to the COVID 19 pandemic. These sectors include the SAP for small businesses; continued transportation, repatriation and mobility assistance to health workers, frontliners, overseas Filipino workers, stranded passengers, and foreign nationals in the country.
The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives on Tuesday blasted the government for its inability to speed up the release of social amelioration payouts to the target beneficiaries.
In a joint statement, the group cited the Malacañang's sixth report to Congress pursuant to the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act which reveals that after seven weeks of it described as "militarized" lockdown, 7.7 million of the 18 million low-income households have yet to receive financial assistance from the government.
"The government’s social amelioration program has failed to provide urgent and timely economic relief to Filipino families amid the pandemic, with an alarming backlog of 8.3 million households and individuals–7.1 million of whom are low-income non-4Ps households," said the group, which is composed of Reps. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Eufemia Cullamat and Ferdinand Gaite of Bayan Muna; France Castro of ACT-Teachers and Arlene Brosas of Gabriela.
The group said about 11.4 million low-income households and 1 million income-displaced individuals have received payouts but had to wait in vain for weeks and suffer long queues–the earliest beneficiaries for 2-3 weeks, and 4.5 million others for as long as six weeks–only to receive a measly P80-P119 per day.
"The government's lack of urgency and slow rate of action are not suitable for a public health emergency like the coronavirus pandemic," the lawmakers said.
The Palace on Tuesday said it would give P30,000 reward to those who can report local officials stealing emergency subsidies meant for poor families affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte decided to give the reward after he got furious over reports that a certain Danilo Flores, a kagawad (village councilor) of Hagonoy, Bulacan, was arrested for allegedly pocketing almost half of the cash aid under the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP) which was meant for low-income households.
Roque said that corrupt local officials can be reported through the 8888 citizens' complaint hotline.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to immediately investigate reported anomalies in relation to the distribution of cash aid from the SAP like splitting or not giving the correct amount.
“I am directing PNP units all over the country and also requesting the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to prioritize the investigation of graft and corruption cases against local officials on SAP distribution. Greedy and corrupt officials should have no place in the government. They are carriers of a malignant virus that destroys the trust the people gave to them,” said DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año in a news release, as he expressed dismay over the reported incident in Hagonoy caught on video.
Año said the alleged illegal acts of Flores were “disgraceful and downright shameful” as public officials should be the ones helping poor families, especially during the health crisis.
Flores was caught on video telling SAP financial aid recipients that they would only get P3,000 of the cash aid and that the remaining P3,500 would be given to the town mayor for distribution to non-SAP beneficiaries. However, Hagonoy Mayor Raulito Manlapaz denied Flores’ claims and denied any involvement.
The video went viral on social media and Flores was arrested on Saturday night.
Año warned that similar incidents will not be tolerated and sanctions will be meted against corrupt local officials. He assured those accused of due process but emphasized that the law will be imposed especially during this public health emergency.
PNP chief, Gen. Archie Gamboa on Tuesday ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to probe reported anomalies on the distribution of cash aid from the SAP.
The directive came as Año told Gamboa to look into reported cases of erring local executives in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and DILG, PNP spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said in a press statement.
Banac said the PNP will field investigating teams who will gather evidence against local executives for alleged graft and corruption in the distribution of government cash aid for the poor.
Meanwhile, the DILG hailed 828 LGUs nationwide that have completed the payout of the first tranche of the SAP financial assistance to poor families in their localities and have met the deadline set by the DILG for the aid distribution.
In other developments
* Senator Francis Tolentino filed a measure to allow three-installment payments for electricity, water and telephone bills during a state of calamity.
* A public policy think tank led by President Rodrigo Duterte’s former urban poor chief terry Ridon has filed at least 50 appeals on behalf of families that have yet to receive cash assistance from the government. With PNA