DA failed to fund livestock repopulation despite P24-B funding, Villar alleges

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has not allotted funds for the repopulation of livestock even amid the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Cynthia Villar said Monday.

Villar, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, revealed this during the Senate probe on the rising prices of food commodities in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to her, while the Bayanihan To Recover As One Act or Bayanihan 2 has earmarked P24 billion to the DA, the agency has only spent 25% of it and zero for repopulation of livestock.

“Binasa ko iyong report niyo on Bayanihan 2, wala namang budget for livestock. 25% lang iyong spending niyo as of your latest report,” Villar told DA officials in the hearing.

“Sa 25% wala akong nakitang para sa livestock repopulation,” she added.

DA Assistant Secretary for Livestock William Medrano argued that P678 million out of the agency’s P24-billion budget under Bayanihan 2 has been allotted for various livelihood programs for livestock and poultry.

Villar, however, said it was not the point she was making. “Hindi eh. Iyong sa livelihood niyo, livelihood para sa paggawa ng bagnet, chicharon, hindi sa repopulation. Binasa ko iyong report niyo,” she said.

“Wala, wala yung [sa livestock repopulation]. Kailangan liwanagin niyo iyong report niyo roon kasi wala eh,” she added, lamenting that portions of the DA’s report on Bayanihan 2 fund spending were “very vague.”

“Very vague. Meron roon, for transboundary diseases. Marami iyon eh. Ano ba iyong mga iyon?” Villar asked.

“You should have spent enough kasi dapat December tapos na ‘yang Bayanihan 2 eh. Mabuti  at in-extend [ang effectivity],” she said.

In response, DA Secretary William Dar said that the agency will clarify this in due time.

President Rodrigo Duterte already issued Executive Order 124 setting price ceiling on pork (pigs) P270 per kilo, pork (liempo) at P300 per kilo and dressed chicken at P160 per kilo to address the unabated price increases amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes said last week that four million hogs were lost due to ASF. —KBK, GMA News