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Government scraps planned subsidy for farmers, fisherfolk
THE GOVERNMENT has scrapped the proposed input subsidy for farmers and fisher-folk given difficulties in tracking beneficiaries, settling instead with an existing program administered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the poor, a Cabinet official said yesterday.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said the scheme may only end up in fund wastage without a proper implementing mechanism.
"Mukhang hindi na po ito ma-co-consider... ’pag hindi naman ganun kaganda siguro huwag na natin pilitin. Baka masayang ’yung pera ng pamahalaan [This will no longer be considered... if it’s not that good, let’s not force it. We may end up wasting government funds]," said Mr. Alcala in an ambush interview on the sidelines of an event in Malacañang.
The farm input subsidy, which would have provided farm/fishing equipment and other tools of the trade, has been abandoned in favor of the existing rice-for-work and cash-for-work programs by the DSWD directly targeting the poor.
"It’s no longer an input subsidy but food-for-work, this assistance we have for the farmers and fishermen," said Mr. Alcala.
Qualified farmers under the scheme will be clearing canals for irrigation for equivalent pay. Fishermen, meanwhile, can help in planting mangroves and fixing abandoned fish ponds.
There are over two million farmers and fishermen in the country.
Social Welfare Secretary Corazon J. Soliman, in a previous interview, noted that a budget of P4.23 billion has been allocated to the DSWD for the cash-for-work and rice-for-work arrangements, wherein a qualified beneficiary will exchange 14 days’ work for minimum pay.
The arrangements were fast-tracked and initiated this month rather than in July.
In a related development, around P1.79 million in fuel assistance for registered tricycles in Eastern Visayas will be released before the end of the month, a regional official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said.
Regional Director Francisco C. Jose said the region received an allotment of P1.79 million for distribution to 78 local government units (LGUs).
The LGUs, in turn, will be responsible for distributing the one-time gasoline subsidy of P150 cash per tricycle unit to operators.
Mr. Jose said the amount released to the region is based on the 11,935 registered tricycles submitted by LGUs as of March 28.
The distribution of the fund is part of the Pantawid Pasada or the Public Transport Assistance Program (PTAP) of the government, which was created under Executive Order 32.
The PTAP aims to provide assistance to the public transport sector to cushion the impact and the resulting effects of oil price hikes on the costs of fuel, food and other basic commodities.
The program will release a total of P134.4 million to partly subsidize 896,024 certified tricycle franchisees nationwide.
Mr. Jose said the local government units of Matalom, Leyte; Macrohon, Tomas Opus and Maasin City in Southern Leyte; and Catbalogan City, Samar will be among the first to receive the subsidy as these were the first to complete the required documents such as memorandum of agreement and certified list of tricycle franchisees in their localities.
He added that once these papers pass the pre-audit, the check will be released to the respective municipal/city treasurers through the concerned DILG field offices. -- Johanna Paola D. Poblete and Reyan L. Arinto
BusinessWorld Online Edition |Government scraps planned subsidy for farmers, fisherfolk
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Subsidy program to benefit farmers, fisherfolk
By Mechievilla Carline Benolerao /JMO (The Freeman) Updated June 09, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (0)
CEBU, Philippines - At least 112,939 small scale farmers and fisherfolk in Central Visayas are expected to benefit from the rice/food subsidy program the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) launched last week.
Yesterday, DSWD launched the program in Negros and Bohol. It covers 47 towns in Bohol, 53 in Cebu, 20 in Negros Oriental and six in Siquijor. DSWD aims to implement the program fully in Region 7 by June 15.
Under the program, each household in the areas covered will receive P2,937 from DSWD. The cash will be provided in exchange for the recipients’ work in projects, which will be identified by the leaders of the communities covered by the program.
The program provides short term intervention to provide temporary employment to small scale farmers and fisherfolks and their families who need assistance in undertaking preparedness, mitigation, relief, rehabilitation or risk reduction projects and activities in their communities.
It is also seen to increase the income of recipients and, at the same time, encourage community participation in implementing a project that will prepare them for response and post disaster activities, including hunger and food security initiatives.
Through the projects, the beneficiaries will be able to enhance food production such as farm preparation, construction of shallow wells and irrigation canals.
The Social Welfare and Development Office in the identified communities, the Department of Agriculture, and other partners of DSWD will manage the projects. — (FREEMAN)
Subsidy program to benefit farmers, fisherfolk | The Freeman » The Freeman Sections » Cebu News