Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 6) – Two farmers’ groups – the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Bantay Bigas – staged a protest outside the Department of Agriculture (DA) office against alleged government neglect of the sector who were victims of Typhoon Egay.
“Walang natatanggap ang mga magsasaka na biktima ng typhoon Egay at habagat. Namo-monitor namin ang natatanggap ng mga magsasaka ay galing sa LGU (local government unit). Wala sa Department of Agriculture. Nasaan ang pondo para sa rice farmers financial assistance program?? Nasaan ang pondo ng DA?” asked Danilo Ramos, KMP chairperson.
[Translation: Farmers affected by Typhoon Egay and the habagat did not receive anything. We monitored that farmers only received aid from the LGU and none from the Department of Agriculture. Where’s the fund for the financial assistance program for rice farmers? Where’s the fund of DA?]
The DA has logged more than ₱4 billion worth of agriculture damage due to the weather disturbance.
The KMP urged the government to give each farmer, whose crops were damaged, ₱25,000 in aid.
“Nakakainis, nakakagalit dahil mas malaki pa iyong intel fund kaysa sa mga serbisyo sa mga Pilipino higit lalo yung subsidy para sa ating mga magsasaka,” said Cathy Estavillo, Bantay Bigas spokesperson.
[Translation: It’s annoying and infuriating because the intel fund has more budget than the services for Filipinos, especially subsidies for farmers.]
The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is looking to secure some ₱10.14 billion for confidential and intelligence funds in the 2024 national budget.
RELATED: Marcos admin seeks ₱10.14B in confidential, intel funds for 2024
Bantay Bigas joined the protest to call for the implementation of a price freeze and price ceiling on the cost of rice, vegetables and other primary commodities.
