Arroyo's fertilizer subsidy program hit

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines – A town executive in North Cotabato has assailed the national government’s fertilizer subsidy program, calling it as part of "politicking" of officials who have plans in 2010. M’lang Mayor Joselito Piñol said the project was introduced to local government units without consultations to Local government unit (LGU) officials, especially in the provinces. Piñol was even frustrated to know that the biggest bulk of the funds for the project will come from the internal revenue allotment (IRA) of each LGU. “We were not informed of this plan ahead. We were surprised to know that the money that would be used for this project will come from our own coffers,” he said. The fertilizer support program is part of the Arroyo administration’s F.I.E.L.D.S. Program to ensure food security in the medium term, according to agriculture officials in Central Mindanao. F.I.E.L.D.S. stands for Fertilizer, Irrigation and other rural infrastructure, Research and extension work, Loans, Dryers and other post harvest facilities, and Seeds. Under the fertilizer component, the agriculture department, in partnership with the LGUs, shall provide fertilizer subsidy to palay farmers to ensure increase in rice farm productivity. This is aside from the hybrid seed subsidy of P1,500 and P760 to certified seed per hectare, DA-12 regional director Abusama Alid said. “But where will we get the money? Our funds have already been allotted for other projects. And besides, before funds are released, it needs approval from the municipal board,” Piñol said. The DA in Central Mindanao has already started last week distribution of fertilizer discount coupons to farmers in North Cotabato, South Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat - provinces that are considered rice granaries in central Mindanao. So far, the DA-12 has given some 40,000 fertilizer discount coupons to farmers in the area so far, according to Alid. Early June this year, the provincial government in North Cotabato has already earmarked P5 million as fertilizer subsidy to thousand of rice farmers in the province. The money will be taken from the province’s 20 percent Economic Development Fund, according to Cotabato Gov. Jesus Sacdalan, chair of the PDC. The fund will be used to purchase fertilizers as government’s subsidy to rice farmers to encourage them to plant more despite the increasing prices of fertilizers today. A bag of fertilizer is sold in the province from P1, 500 to P1, 800. But what irked Pinol was the fact that in the coupon one can find photos of President Arroyo and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap. “Why would they include in the coupons photos of these officials? This is already political campaigning or early politicking,” he said. - GMANews.TV