LUCENA, Quezon — Presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Monday, March 21, vowed that he will ensure the return of the coco levy fund to farmers if elected as president.
“The last time we’re here in Quezon province is before the filing. Ngayon naman eto yung first day ng kampanya natin sa Quezon. Itong Quezon, Laguna, at Batangas, eto isa ito sa biktima ng monopolyo ng coconut (Today is the first day of our campaign in Quezon. In Quezon, Laguna, and Batangas, this is one of the victims of the coconut monopoly),” Domagoso said in a chance interview here.
“Hanggang ngayon talagang halos nagsidilawan na yung mga papel na hawak ng coconut farmers sa tagal ng panahon at marami sa kanila, talagang nakakalungkot, wala na sa mundo hanggang ngayon hindi pa nila nae-enjoy yung benepisyo nito The papers of coconut farmers have turned yellow because of the long wait but they have yet to get their money, it's really sad, they are not here with us anymore but until now they haven't enjoyed their benefits," he stressed).
Republic Act No. 11524, also known as the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act, which was signed into law by President Duterte in February last year, mandates Philippines Coconut Authority (PCA) to craft the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan(CFIDP) that will set the overall direction and policies for the development and rehabilitation of the coconut industry in the next 50 years.
“Kung andyan na sa batas siguro ang pinakamabisang gagawin ng isang presidente is ipatupad lang ito ng tama... In this case kasi kung may mga batas ng umiiral, I’ll make sure that these laws are being implemented properly at nakikinabang yung mga taong dapat makinabang or benipisyaryo nung mga batas na yun lalo na sa Coco Levy Fund (If there is a law, maybe the best thing a president can do is to implement it correctly. In this case, there are existing laws, I'll make sure that these laws are being implemented properly and benefit the people who should benefit. or beneficiaries of those laws, especially the Coco Levy Fund),” he said.