NEW FERTILIZER SUBSIDY SCHEME

LINGAYEN-After the 2005 fertilizer scam was blown sky-high, mayors do not seem inclined to support another fertilizer subsidy scheme being touted by the Arroyo government.

“It’s not negotiable” was the quick retort from the governor and the mayors.

Governor Amado Espino Jr. and the mayors said as much during the meeting with officials of the Department of Agriculture to discuss the mechanics of Executive Order No. 753.

They were in agreement with the sentiment that the national government should not teach the LGUs where to spend their funds.

       Specifically, local officials expressed opposition to the recent Malacañang executive order directing all local government units to use part of their deferred Internal Revenue Allotment share from 2001 to 2004 as fertilizer subsidy to farmers.

The officials manifested their objection during a meeting on Tuesday with officials of the Department of Agriculture who bared the plan for a P500 subsidy for two bags of fertilizer at P250 each, but requiring a counterpart from the LGUs to provide subsidy to four additional bags of fertilizer at P2,000.

The scheme will invariably prevent mayors from utilizing their deferred IRA for other projects.

The six-bag formula was arrived at by DA after it determined that a one hectare of riceland needs six bags of fertilizer that now costs farmers P1,800 per bag. The new subsidy formula should help the farmer cover other essential inputs.

Espino belittled the new fertilizer subsidy program, finding DA’s own P500 subsidy to farmers too small.

The governor and the other local officials were in agreement that unreleased IRA be used instead for irrigation purposes as farmers need water for their farms during the dry months.  

It was Mayor Reynaldo Velasco, vice president of the Pangasinan Mayor’s League, who was unequivocal about the use for the deferred IRA share of LGUs as non-negotiable since towns, cities and the province have other uses for their IRA.

Besides, he said, it is the local legislative body that programs the IRA share of LGUs, and therefore the mayors cannot commit what is not under their authority.

Executive Order No.753  mandates LGUs to use part of their deferred IRA shares from 2001 to 2004 as fertilizer subsidy to farmers so that they can increase their rice production and help bring about 98 percent rice sufficiency by year 2010.   

Espino was earlier given the authority by the provincial board to negotiate with LandBank for a loan, using their deferred P79 million IRA share for 2001 to 2004 as collateral for which purpose was not specified yet.

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments