Jun Magsaysay revives proposal on farmer vouchers
SENATORIAL candidate Ramon “Jun” Magsaysay Jr. is reviving his earlier proposal for a voucher system that will help farmers boost agricultural production and learn modern agricultural technologies.
“We are recommending vouchers so that the farmers can use the vouchers for food or agriculture, feeds or even in basic education,” said Magsaysay Jr., a part of the Liberal Party coalition.
The former legislator, who is a farmer himself, said the system will serve as a direct subsidy to the farmers and will mean timely assistance.
Magsaysay, as chairman of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, led the senate investigation of the fertilizer fund scam during the 13th Congress.
“Sources of requirement should come from the farmers, not from top-down because if there are a lot of layers that are handling the funds, there is more room for corruption,” said Magsaysay Jr.
A mechanism to audit the voucher system will be part of the system to avoid anomalies and avoid a repeat of the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.
The senate committee recommended charges against former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” I. Bolante, who was allegedly the “brains and implementor” of the scam and the case is still pending at the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court.
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