House to DA: Submit complete FMR project list
Published Jun 29, 2020 12:00 am
By Charissa Luci-AtienzaÂ
Lawmakers asked the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday, June 29 to apprise them of the status of farm-to-market road (FMR) projects that were "delisted" under the 2020 General Appropriations Act (GAA), and give them the complete list of FMR projects for this year and those initially proposed for 2021.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
During a virtual meeting of the House Special Committee on North Luzon Growth Quadrangle, Ilocos Sur 2nd district Rep. Kristin Singson-Meehan called on the DA regional directors from Region I (Ilocos) , II (Cagayan Valley), and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to submit the complete list of the FMR projects for this year and for 2021.
"Remember nagkaroon ng FMR projects na nailagay sa 2020 , but then we were informed na natanggal, so what is the status of the FMR projects, yun ba 'yung para sa 2021 na? Can we get more information about that?," Singson-Meehan asked.
(Remember, there were FMR projects included in the 2020 national budget], but then we were informed that they were scrapped, so what is the status of the FMR projects, will those be implemented in 2021? Can we get more information about that?)
DA Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Rodolfo Vicerra relayed to the special panel, chaired by Pangasinan 5th district Rep. Ramon Guico III that the DA is pushing for a "bigger budget" for 2021 to ensure the implementation of the much-needed FMRs in the countryside.
"This time around we have proposed much bigger budget for next year. And hopefully, lahat nung (all those) originally proposed duon sa (in the) budget will be under Tier 1. Depende lang po kasi kung may amendments (It depends if there will be amendments) later on and new additions on top of the original submission list, ayun po ay napupunta sa Tier 2 (that will be put under Tier 2)," he said.
Pangasinan 6th district Rep. Tyrone Agabas expressed hope that the scrapping of crucial infrastructure projects such as FMRs will not happen in the proposed 2021 national budget.
In response to Agabas, Vicerra said "we will do our best", citing the current "interactive" budget process that involves the House of Representatives, Senate, and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
"Our intention is really to improve the way we do things in agriculture, ang productivity po natin (our country's productivity) . Kailangan po natin ang mga imprastrakturang ito (We need these infrastructures) at kailangan po natin ang mga processing centers para sa ating farmers.(and we need processing centers for our farmers)," the DA official said.
(Help us to push for the measures that will respond all the needs of our rural sectorz our farmers and fisherfolks. We support all the assistance needed by our farmers, fishery sector in our districts.)
Baguio City lone district Rep. Mark Go questioned DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Dr. Cameron P. Odsey over the delisting of FMR projects intended for the Baguio City.
"We have very few FMRs in the city of Baguio. Those that were included in the 2020 were removed. Is this removed during the deliberation of Senate, is it in bicam or is it part of National Budget Circular 580 where 35 percent of budget is cut?," Go asked.
Odsey clarified that that proposed FMR was part of the National Expenditure Program (NEP) of the DA.
"When the GAA was released, that FMR was not there anymore so it was in the budget process in Congress somehow it got lost," he told the lawmakers.
He confirmed that some of the proposed FMR projects were delisted and the CAR has "zero budget" for the FMRs.
During the meeting, Go exhorted his colleagues to support the DA's proposed budget increase for next year to improve the country's agricultural productivity.
"I would like to ensure that we support the budget of DA and make a significant stride in terms of improving productivity of our agriculture sector. This is a very critical component of our development in this country, agriculture. That is why it is important we increase the budget or utilize or leverage technology," he said.
During the panel meeting, DA's North Luzon Regional Offices sought a total of P24.3 billion budget for 2021--P8 billion for Region I, P11 billion for Region II, and P5.34 billion for CAR.
The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) also presented its proposed P5.6 billion budget for 2021.
Of the total amount, P5.1 billion will be earmarked for Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), P133 million for personal services, P87 millioon for overhead cost, and P302 million for research.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
During a virtual meeting of the House Special Committee on North Luzon Growth Quadrangle, Ilocos Sur 2nd district Rep. Kristin Singson-Meehan called on the DA regional directors from Region I (Ilocos) , II (Cagayan Valley), and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to submit the complete list of the FMR projects for this year and for 2021.
"Remember nagkaroon ng FMR projects na nailagay sa 2020 , but then we were informed na natanggal, so what is the status of the FMR projects, yun ba 'yung para sa 2021 na? Can we get more information about that?," Singson-Meehan asked.
(Remember, there were FMR projects included in the 2020 national budget], but then we were informed that they were scrapped, so what is the status of the FMR projects, will those be implemented in 2021? Can we get more information about that?)
DA Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Rodolfo Vicerra relayed to the special panel, chaired by Pangasinan 5th district Rep. Ramon Guico III that the DA is pushing for a "bigger budget" for 2021 to ensure the implementation of the much-needed FMRs in the countryside.
"This time around we have proposed much bigger budget for next year. And hopefully, lahat nung (all those) originally proposed duon sa (in the) budget will be under Tier 1. Depende lang po kasi kung may amendments (It depends if there will be amendments) later on and new additions on top of the original submission list, ayun po ay napupunta sa Tier 2 (that will be put under Tier 2)," he said.
Pangasinan 6th district Rep. Tyrone Agabas expressed hope that the scrapping of crucial infrastructure projects such as FMRs will not happen in the proposed 2021 national budget.
In response to Agabas, Vicerra said "we will do our best", citing the current "interactive" budget process that involves the House of Representatives, Senate, and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
"Our intention is really to improve the way we do things in agriculture, ang productivity po natin (our country's productivity) . Kailangan po natin ang mga imprastrakturang ito (We need these infrastructures) at kailangan po natin ang mga processing centers para sa ating farmers.(and we need processing centers for our farmers)," the DA official said.
(Help us to push for the measures that will respond all the needs of our rural sectorz our farmers and fisherfolks. We support all the assistance needed by our farmers, fishery sector in our districts.)
Baguio City lone district Rep. Mark Go questioned DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Dr. Cameron P. Odsey over the delisting of FMR projects intended for the Baguio City.
"We have very few FMRs in the city of Baguio. Those that were included in the 2020 were removed. Is this removed during the deliberation of Senate, is it in bicam or is it part of National Budget Circular 580 where 35 percent of budget is cut?," Go asked.
Odsey clarified that that proposed FMR was part of the National Expenditure Program (NEP) of the DA.
"When the GAA was released, that FMR was not there anymore so it was in the budget process in Congress somehow it got lost," he told the lawmakers.
He confirmed that some of the proposed FMR projects were delisted and the CAR has "zero budget" for the FMRs.
During the meeting, Go exhorted his colleagues to support the DA's proposed budget increase for next year to improve the country's agricultural productivity.
"I would like to ensure that we support the budget of DA and make a significant stride in terms of improving productivity of our agriculture sector. This is a very critical component of our development in this country, agriculture. That is why it is important we increase the budget or utilize or leverage technology," he said.
During the panel meeting, DA's North Luzon Regional Offices sought a total of P24.3 billion budget for 2021--P8 billion for Region I, P11 billion for Region II, and P5.34 billion for CAR.
The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) also presented its proposed P5.6 billion budget for 2021.
Of the total amount, P5.1 billion will be earmarked for Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), P133 million for personal services, P87 millioon for overhead cost, and P302 million for research.