DBM questioned on budget cut for coconut farmers

Camille Elemia

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DBM questioned on budget cut for coconut farmers
'They are the poorest in the Philippines. They earn only on the average, P50 a day, or P1,500 a month. We should do something,' says Senator Cynthia Villar

MANILA, Philippines – Why cut the budget for the poorest of the poor?

Senator Cynthia Villar questioned Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno on the continued budget cut of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), which is tasked to develop the coconut industry to benefit farmers.

The PCA budget has gone down from P4 billion in 2015 to P1.27 billion in 2016, and P1.42 billion in the proposed 2017 national budget.

The smaller budget, Villar said, will not be enough to help coconut farmers who are among the poorest in the country.

“Bakit ba tayo galit na galit sa mga coconut farmers na tinatanggal natin ang budget sa kanila when they are the poorest in the Philippines (Why are we so angry at the coconut farmers that we cut their budget when they are the poorest in the Philippines)?” the senator asked Diokno during the first budget briefing by the Development Budget Coordination Committee in the Senate.

“They earn only on the average, P50 a day, or P1,500 a month. We should do something. We should do programs in order to improve that or else we will not reduce poverty in our country. Why is this happening?” added Villar, vice chair of the Senate committee on agriculture and food.

Diokno, in response, said the cut was due to the PCA’s underspending – something that did not sit well with the senator. After all, Villar said, it is not the coconut farmers’ fault that the government agency underspent its budget.

“Change the people in PCA so that they can help the coconut farmers,” the senator said. (READ: A ‘green revolution’ that may save Filipino coconut farmers)

Not enough

Villar said the PCA’s budget is so low that even the creation of a coconut levy trust fund amounting to P72 billion would not be enough to improve the lives of coconut farmers.

“Akala ko ba ‘yung coco levy fund is in addition to existing programs to help the coconut farmers? Iyong income sa coco levy fund hindi sapat para sa kakulangan sa budget ng PCA. Paano natin tutulungan ang ating coconut farmers?” Villar said.

(I thought the coco levy fund is in addition to existing programs to help the coconut farmers? The income from the coco levy fund is not enough to address the deficiency in the budget of the PCA. How then can we help our coconut farmers?)

“I just want an explanation because everybody is saying that we should help our coconut farmers because they are the poorest in the country and we are for inclusive growth. Bakit nagkaganito ang budget ng PCA (Why did the PCA budget turn out this way)?” she added.

Diokno said he would have the financial report of the PCA checked, as he assured Villar that the Duterte administration would not tolerate underperformance.

Villar’s first bill in the 17th Congress, Senate Bill Number 139, seeks to create a coconut levy trust fund. (READ: Duterte to Panelo: Farmers should get coco levy fund) – Rappler.com

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Camille Elemia

Camille Elemia is a former multimedia reporter for Rappler. She covered media and disinformation, the Senate, the Office of the President, and politics.