HINIKAYAT ni Senador Grace Poe ang Department of Agriculture (DA) na pagtuunan ng tulong ang lokal na magsasaka at mangingisda, magbababoy at iba pang agricultural producers sa halip na suportahan ang pag-aangkat ng produktong agrikultura.

Isinagawa ni Poe ang panawagan matapos ipahayag ni Agriculture Secretary William Dar sa anibersaryo ng ahensya na lumakas ang food security ng bansa at nasa landas ng kaunlaran ang sektor ng agrikultura.

“We must improve the conditions of our farmers and help increase their productivity if we are to realize inclusive growth,” ayon kay Poe.

Idinagdag pa ni Poe na: “At a time when borders across the globe are again closing, we need to strengthen our own production of food and aspire for self-sufficiency as most countries have been doing since last year.”

Aniya, noong Hunyo 29, ipinalabas ng DA ang Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 13 na nagbibigay ayuda ng hanggang P5 milyon sa warehouse at cold storage facilities pero umabot lamang sa P5,000 ang ayudang ibinigay sa mahihirap na magsasaka at mangingisda noong Nobyembre at nag-alok ng pautang na P25,000 na babayaran pa nila.

“Before we even talk about value adding, post harvest facilities, distribution and storage, farmers and fisherfolk must first be able to produce harvests that can be stored and distributed,” giit ni Poe.

Base sa alituntunin ng MC 13 sa pinalakas na “Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita” financial grants alinsunod sa deklarasyon ng state of calamity sa ilalim ng Republic Act No. 11469 o ang Bayanihan to Heal as One Act na inaatasan ang DA na bigyang prayoridad ang financial assistance sa magsasaka mula sa kanilang badyet.

“We want to know how much grant the DA has disbursed from then until of late,” ayon kay Poe.

Sinabi ni Poe na kapag napilay ang kapasidad ng magsasaka at hog raiser sanhi ng African swine fever, Kuwestiyonable ang prayoridad ng DA.

“Under the circular, only four types of activities would be eligible for grant: value-adding activities as assemblers of farmers’ produce; marketing logistics activities of consolidators or wholesale distributors; retail and distribution activities in consumer markets; and establishing Kadiwa stores in areas and their renovation and improvement,” ayon kay Poe base sa memorandum. (ESTONG REYES)