Monitor LGU execs’ involvement in agricultural scams, DILG urged

MANILA, Philippines — An anti-crime and corruption group is calling on the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to closely monitor the involvement of barangay and municipal officials in agricultural trading scams victimizing farmers and farmer groups in the countryside.

Apple Meneses, executive director of Ipabitag Mo (IBMI) said they have discovered the active involvement of barangay, municipal and city politicians and local government unit officials in agricultural trading activities in their respective localities, which though not illegal or irregular, was negatively affecting relations between LGUs and farmer communities in a growing number of cases.

“LGUs should assist the farmers in their localities and protect them from abusive agricultural traders who take advantage of farmers, especially those facing difficulties in selling their crops, or the different disasters or inclement weather that affect their harvest,” Meneses said.

“But when the LGU officials are themselves engaging in agricultural trading, there is the danger that some of these officials would be the ones who take advantage of the farmers in their communities so they can gain more profit from their trading activities,” he added.

The group has received several complaints from farmers and farmers’ groups in different municipalities in the provinces of Central Luzon, such as Nueva Ecija and Tarlac, who have been victimized by agricultural trading scams such as non-payment of crops.