Press Release
October 4, 2006

Transcript of interview with Sen. Franklin M. Drilon (DAR budget)

Q: On the DAR budget

SFMD: Iyong P100 milyon na fertilizer fund na napunta noong panahon ng halalan galing sa DAR, napunta sa DA at napunta sa fertilizer fund ay hindi na po mauulit sa 2007. Nangako naman na ang fertilizer fund at hybrid rice fund na mahigit sa P300 milyon na nagastos noong halalan noong 2004 ay hindi nila uulitin kahit may halalan sa susunod na taon. Nangako sa akin si Secretary na hindi na uulitin iyon. Nadala na siguro.

Q: Baka naman may ibang programa na ganoon din?

SFMD: Titingnan natin. May sinasabi silang tulay-tulay na mahigit P1 bilyon. Mayroon silang project na Tulay ng Pangulo sa Magsasaka, kung saan iko-connect nila iyong mga agrarian reform communities. Ating titingnan na ito ay hindi magiging fertilizer fund scam muli dahil may halalan muli sa susunod na taon. Ating maalaala na ang 2004, doon sa Agrarian Reform Fund, mayroong P900 milyon na mula sa CARP Fund napunta sa DPWH, just before the election. We want to make certain that this P1 billion bridge program will not suffer the same fate as the P900 million fund that was transferred just before the election from DAR to DPWH.

Q: Nationwide and implementation nito, sir?

SFMD: This is nationwide. This is the first time that DAR is involved in this bridge program, to our recollection. This was implemented previously by other agencies. This is a foreign-funded loan of about P11 billion that will be implemented until 2012. This P1 billion is part of the P11 billion loan for a bridge program. The implementation of which will run until 2012.

Q: Kanino hiniram?

SFMD: From UK. Ngayon lang napasukan ng DAR itong programang ito kaya ating titingnan nang mabuti dahil sinasabi nila na DPWH ang magi-implement. Noong 2004, ang DPWH ay nagkaroon din ng P900 million mula sa DAR.

Q: Wala silang intelligence funds?

SFMD: Wala naman silang intelligence funds.

Q: Parang farm to market bridge ba ito?

SFMD: They said their role is to identify the agrarian reform communities, which must be connected. Ang ibig naming gawin dito sa budget ng DAR ay ating hilingin sa kanila kung magkano ang dapat ibayad sa mga may-ari ng lupa na na-distribute sa CARP program. We will allocate for each year for the next ten years the amounts necessary to redeem the bonds. As you know, the payment to the land owners, or the lands which are distributed under the CARP, the payments were in the form of Land Bank bonds. These Land Bank bonds will have to be backed up by appropriations when they fall due. The view expressed here is that there should be automatic appropriation just like the payment for foreign loans. Kapag nangutang tayo sa mga banko sa labas, hindi kailangan ng appropriation ng Kongreso, automatic ang payment. Dapat nga naman, kung ang bond holder ang nautangan natin ay mga may-ari ng lupa na napailalim sa CARP, dapat automatic appropriation din para makakasiguro naman na babayaran iyong mga land owners. Sa ganoong pamamaraan, mapapalagay sa maayos at tahimik iyong mga humahawak nitong bonds ng pamahalaan.

Q: The land distribution should be finished by next year?

SFMD: The funding will end in 2008. In accordance with their projection, they will finish 90 % or over 90 % of their land distribution by 2008. If provided funding, they committed to finish it by 2008. They are in accordance with schedule. They will finish land distribution and coverage of culpable lands by 2008, which is their last year of funding under the law.

Q: They will cease operation by then?

SFMD: As the law stands today, they will cease operation after that. Unless extended, they will cease operation. Their operation will be, kung support services, it's either they will be merged with the Department of Agriculture. The question is, who will be the surviving agency. (end)

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