Press Release
March 28, 2007

KIKO ON THE P500M IRRIGATION PROJECT

"Although we welcome the government's move to sustainably fund irrigation projects in the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle and Mindanao, we are wary that the rather timely release of the P500M monthly budget may be abused for electioneering. The issue at hand is not whether Malacanang was indeed involved in the Fertilizer Fund scam.

More than P3billion was released by the Department of Agriculture during the 2004 presidential campaign and was allegedly diverted to obscure private foundations and companies. Up to this very day, very little effort has been made to institute measures to correct the mismanagement of the fertilizer fund. The release of P1B for irrigation, even when there already is a DPWH memoranda regarding a ban on public works during the election period is worrisome, when this should have been released as early as September of last year.

I am all for the modernization of our countryside and our farmers and agriculture sector deserve no less than the best technical and infrastructure subsidies that they can get from our government. But let's be honest here. We don't punish enough those that conduct anomalous programs and disburse ghost projects. I urge Malacañang to level with our people. The fertilizer fund mismanagement should be enough reason why it would not be prudent to release this irrigation fund at this time.

I call on the Department of Agriculture and Malacañang to not compromise the development of our countryside for a sure win this election."

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