The support provided by the government for our farmers should be insulated from politics as the agriculture sector needs all the help it can get.
This was stressed on Tuesday by AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee, who pointed out that the government is obligated to extend assistance to all Filipino farmers and to do this in a timely manner.
“Ang paulit-ulit na sinasabi ko: Ang gobyerno dapat enabler. Hindi sya dapat pabigat sa taumbayan. Nandyan sya para pagaanin ang pasanin ng ating mga kababayan.”
In a radio interview, Lee said: “May mga subsidy at iba-ibang tulong ang gobyerno para sa magsasaka. Sa Kongreso nilalaanan yan ng pondo. Ang problema, di naman nagagamit dahil sa dami ng requirements.”
“Tapos nakakalungkot na malalaman natin na may instances na naiipit ang mga assistance para sa farmers’ groups dahil hindi nila kasundo ang mga opisyal; yung support for farmers, dapat insulated from politics yan,” lamented Lee, who was in Cebu to deliver a solidarity message for the 1st National Credit Surety Fund Cooperative Congress.
“Ang paulit-ulit na sinasabi ko: Ang gobyerno dapat enabler. Hindi sya dapat pabigat sa taumbayan. Nandyan sya para pagaanin ang pasanin ng ating mga kababayan.”
Lee, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, explained that during the deliberations on the budget of the Department of Agriculture, he had pointed out that farmers had difficulties tapping the support of the government as they grappled with multiple requirements.
The lawmaker from Bicol reiterated that “we should simplify, streamline, and liberalize the requirements so our farmers get the support they need.”
“Importante na makuha nila ang support,” added Lee, “at mahalaga na makuha nila ito on time, hindi kung kailan tapos na ang harvest season.”
“Winner tayo lahat kapag nakakuha ang ating mga magsasaka ng suporta; they become more productive, their output increases, and food supplies stabilize and become more affordable for all.”
