(Bloomberg)

A neophyte congressman has told the Philippine Center for Post-harvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) that it's a "huge sin" to leave unused the billions worth of money that's intended to capacitate local agriculture workers. 

This, AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee made a computation about PhilMech's budget during the House Committee on Appropriations' reent 2024 budget hearing of the Department of Agriculture (DA). 

"Mahigit P8 bilyon ang natirang budget mula sa 2022, mula sa appropriations ngayong 2023, at meron pang pondo galing sa RCEF (Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund). Sa ilang buwan na lang, magbibigay na naman ng pondo sa PhilMech galing sa RCEF, an additional of about P5 billion; so mga P13 billion po lahat yan,” Lee said. 

(A budget of over P8 billion remains for 2022, from the appropriations this 2023, and there's also the funds from RCEF. And i n a few month's time, PhilMech will once again get funds from RCEF, an additional of about P5 billion; so that’s about P13 billion in all.) 

During the budget briefing, the Bicol lawmaker reminded PhilMech Director Dr. Dionisio Alvindia about the importance of helping farmers through the provision of farm equipment and post-harvest facilities. 

"Our farmers and fisherfolk are our food security soldiers in our war against hunger; paano sila lalaban kung wala silang bala (How will they win if they don't have ammunition?) 

"Malaking kasalanan na natetengga ang bilyon-bilyong budget na nandyan na at dapat ay napapakinabangan na ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda. Hindi natin pwedeng hayaan na sa susunod na taon, ganito na naman ang mangyayari,” explained Lee. 

(It's a huge sin to leave idle billions worth of money that should be used to help farmers farmers and fishermen. We can't let a repeat of this happen next year.) 

He then asked Alvindia's commitment to finish their pending deliverables and provide more support to post-harvest facilities before the end of this year. 

“I would like to ask for a strong commitment from the PhilMech director to deliver these services, para malaman natin kung kailan talaga makakarating sa end users o sa ating mga magsasaka ang mga kinakailangan nilang serbisyo at mga kagamitan," Lee said. 

(So that we may know exactly when the end users or our farmers would be able to get the services and equipment that they need.) 

Dionisio replied: “We are giving strong commitment to finish that, P8 billion po this year.”