Senator Cynthia Villar asked Monday the Department of Agriculture (DA) to revisit their proposed projects for the P24 billion budget under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2.
Villar questioned the DA’s budget allocation of 1 billion for the research, constructing a center for animal transboundary diseases, and upgrading regional crop protection centers projects under the Bayanihan 2. The agriculture department is proposing a P56.8 billion budget for 2021.
“Pag Bayanihan 2 ba ito ang paggagagawin natin? Parang ito ay dapat nasa regular budget. Pag Bayanihan 2 di ba para tumulong sa ating mga kababayang nagkakaproblema? Hindi naman para ito ay i-upgrade ngayon lahat. Bakit sa Bayanihan 2 ninyo nilagay ito?” Villar asked.
“Minabuti natin ma’am kasi matagal na, na they can be more responsive to helping the farmers during the pandemic,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in response.
However, the senator was not convinced that the fund from Bayanihan 2, a law that was approved to assist various sectors in coping with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, should be spent on such projects.
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“Ako kasi sawang-sawa na ako sa ganiyan. Wala naman ‘yan eh. Mas gusto ko pa mga program na lang para sa mga farmer natin, kaysa mga ganyan. Puro ganiyan tapos wala namang nangyayari,” the senator said.
“Bakit di ninyo na lang idagdag ‘yan dito sa social protection na P4 billion na ang bibigyan ninyo ay marginalized farmers? Bakit di ninyo na lang idagdag dun at saka na lang ito kapag hindi pandemic?” she added.
Dar said earlier in the hearing that DA is allocating P4 billion for cash aid to the “poorest of the poor” in the agriculture sector through the Bayanihan 2.
Villar said the allocation for cash aid is not enough, asking the DA to rethink the breakdown of their Bayanihan 2 funds.
“Sana magbago kayo ng kaunti dito, damihan ninyo ang social protection,” she said.
Dar responded affirmatively to the senator’s suggestion.