SAN JOSE, Antique – Government financial assistance to sectors in need are not personal achievements or accomplishments of politicians, according to Atty. Ade Santillan Fajardo, former president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).
“May nagakomento nga ang major industry dya sa Antique pulitika. Tanan nga klase sang assistance ginasakyan sang pulitika kag gina-angot sa pulitika,” said Fajardo during the online program “Giya kang Banwa”.
The congressional aspirant in Antique province was echoing the sentiments of Antiqueños relative to the distribution of government financial assistance.
Fajardo cited for instance, the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged / Displaced Workers (TUPAD) which is a government stop-gap measure against the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
This, according to Fajardo, is funded by the national government, thus, “regardless kon sin-o gapungko, kon sin-o man ang mayor or governor, regardless of who is there, indi ran dapat i-claim as personal achievement/accomplishment sang isa ka pulitiko. Buwis naton ri-a tanan nga ginatugro nga assistance para at least makalampuwas sa pandemic.”
Another government program is the P5,000 financial aid for each farmer through the Department of Agriculture (DA). Fajardo explained that this assistance is due to the implementation of the Rice Tarrification Law (RTL).
RTL allows the importation of rice in the bid to bring down the retail price of rice in the country for the benefit of consumers.
However, it has a side effect, said Fajardo – local palay growers are affected because their produce can only be sold on lower prices because the price of imported rice cheap.
“Nag-effect kananda economically, therefore kinanglan may cushion or parachute nga sakyan ang mga farmers nga maigo sang Rice Tarrification Law,” said Fajardo.
He said the law provides a recovery fund taken from 35 percent import tariff imposed to imported rice. Every year, a P10-billion fund is allotment as cash assistance for affected farmers.
“Because of that law and because it is a matter of right because naigo ang aton mga mangungoma,, entitled sanda kara nga bul-on ang part of the P10 billion. Indi tana ra dapat i-claim nga credit kang mga pulitiko. Ara sa layi, ang sakripisyo kang mangungoma tungod sa implementation ka RTL kinanglan i-compensate through that kind of assistance,” Fajardo further explained.
Does the RTL needs amendments?
It needs to be studied well, said Fajardo.
“Tungod rigya sa Antique tama taton ka bugana sa paray. Amo dya ang aton main produce, driver kang aton ekonomiya. Special case ang aton nga kaso. Ang implementation ka RTL naigo kita, amo ran nga kinanglan ta kang assistance,” said Fajardo.
Meantime, if the RTL is not amended or modified, Fajardo opined that the local governments should take action.
One of these is to buy the produce of local farmers at higher prices to help them.
“Duro daad nga pinaagi. Atleast sa situation sang Antique nga bugana ang paray, medyo mahagan-hagan ang epekto kang RTL,” Fajardo said./PN
