Congress probe sought on P6 billion agricultural training fund

MANILA, Philippines — Farmers’ group Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) yesterday asked Congress to conduct an inquiry on how the P6-billion rice fund allotted for agricultural training and extension programs was spent.

FFF national manager Raul Montemayor said the congressional oversight committee on agricultural and fisheries modernization should review the performance of training programs intended for rice farmers.

The programs have been allotted P1 billion yearly since the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) took effect in 2019.

Montemayor said the fund should be reallocated to concerned implementing agencies. 

The committee is chaired by Sen. Cynthia Villar and Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga. It is currently conducting hearings on proposed amendments to the RTL.

The hearings’ agenda included the evaluation of the utilization of the RTL’s Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which earmarkd P10 billion per year for the training and other programs intended to uplift the life of farmers.

Montemayor said the RTL provides that 70 percent of the annual P1-billion training fund, or P700 million every year, must be given to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), which is under the Department of Labor and Employment. 

He said the remaining 30 percent is shared equally among agencies under the Department of Agriculture (DA), including the Agricultural Training Institute, the Philippine Rice Research Institute and the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization.

“The fund should be used to upgrade the training and extension programs of these DA agencies, in line with their overall strategy and thrust to improve farmers’ productivity and competitiveness,” he said. 

“Although TESDA can help, it has neither the capability nor the mandate to provide these services,” Montemayor said. 

He expressed concern over reports that some training centers that were given scholarship slots by the TESDA are facing difficulties in recruiting farmer-enrollees. 

“Part of the training fund should also be invested in facilities and systems that will enable concerned DA agencies to sustain their activities even after the implementation of the RCEF,” Montemayor said.

‘No public consultation on EO 62’

Meanwhile, Malacañang’s response to a petition against Executive Order 62 validated arguments that no public hearings were conducted prior to a decision to bring down the tariff on imported rice, according to the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura.

SINAG chairman Rosendo So yesterday said had the Tariff Commission conducted hearings, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG)’s comment on the matter would not exceed three pages.

“But because there was none, it took up 62 pages,” So said.

Farmers filed before the Supreme Court a petition against EO 62, which allows the government to bring down rice tariffs from 35 to 15 percent, to lower the cost of the staple and other agricultural produce.

In a comment dated July 26, Malacañang, through the OSG, asked the high tribunal to dismiss the petition, which seeks to declare EO 62 as unconstitutional.