MANILA – President Benigno Aquino on Wednesday said the government is trying to resolve the P71-billion Coco Levy Fund, but still has to await for the Supreme Court’s decision on the longstanding issue.
Talking to members of the Kilos Magniniyog, who staged a 71-day march from Davao City in Mindanao to Malacañang Palace in Manila, Aquino said: “Ang problema lang po: hangga’t wala pang hatol hinggil sa motion for partial reconsideration na ating nilatag para sa kasong COCOFED vs. Republic, at wala pang utos ang Korte Suprema hinggil sa nilatag nating motion for partial entry of judgment para sa kaso, hindi pa po tapos ang proseso, at hindi pa rin po natin maaaring gugulin ang perang dapat nakalaan sa industriya ng niyog.”
He said while waiting for the court decision, the government has increased the Philippine Coconut Authority’s funding from P593 million in 2010 to P5.1 billion in 2013.
“Sadyang malaki nga po ito, dahil isinama na rin sa budget ng PCA ang pondo para sa mga magsasaka ng niyog na sinalanta ng bagyong Yolanda, pati na rin ang pagtugon sa mga tinamaan ng cocolisap,” he said, adding that with the funds, the government was able to focus on ways to make coconut farms more productive.
Giving an example, he said inter-cropping has been introduced in coconut farms to increase the farmers’ harvests.
“Kung magkakaroon po tayo ng fertilization, at dadagdagan ng saging ang sasakahin sa pamamagitan ng intercropping, tinataya ko aabot ng 129,000 piso ang kabuuang kita kada ektarya. Kung hahabulin nating anihin ang coco sap sugar, nang may fertilization at dagdag ding saging, aabot ang kita sa 185,900 piso. Kung sa virgin coconut oil naman po, dagdag sa saging at kung may fertilization, ang dati pong 20,000 piso mula sa kopra, aangat sa 250,320 piso sa kada ektarya kada taon. Kabilang nga po ito sa mga inisyatiba natin upang palakihin ang inyong kita,” Aquino said, pulling away from the issue on the controversial coco fund the farmers have raised.
He further said that the government is strengthening coco-based farming enterprises, such as those on coco-sugar, coco coir, vinegar, and other coconut-based products. He said the government also set up scholarship programs to improve the skills of the next generation of farmers, he said, emphasizing that all these programs were funded by the national budget.
“Ang pondo para sa lahat ng mga programang ito ay hindi nagmula o hiniram sa Coco Levy Fund, na hindi pa nga po natin magugol dahil wala pang pasya sa ating motion. Mula po ito sa ating pambansang budget, na talaga pong itinututok natin sa mga sektor na sisigurong magaaruga sa bawat Pilipino, lalo na ang mga nasa laylayan ng lipunan,” he said.
Aquino said he is open to the sale of the government’s controlling stakes in the United Coconut Planters Bank. “Kung matutuloy po sa baka sakaling pagbebentang ito, makakaasa tayo sa ‘di bababa sa 1.1 bilyon piso na maidaragdag sa pondong inilalaan sa inyong sector,” he said.
He has also directed government agencies to study the best way to mobilize the Coco Levy Fund, once the High Tribunal has made a decision.
Coconut farmers will be consulted in the crafting of legislation that would aid the country’s coconut industry, he said, adding that Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Francis Pangilinan has already held discussions with coconut farmers.
“Ibinahagi niya po sa akin ang iba pang napagkasunduan. Una: Bagaman mas maganda kung mayroong batas, habang wala po ito, inaaral na rin po natin ang mungkahi ninyong gumawa na muna ako ng isang Executive Order. Ikalawa: Na ang pondo ng Coco Levy Fund ay bukod pa sa pondong inilalaan natin sa Philippine Coconut Authority, mula sa pambansang budget. Sang-ayon po tayo dito. Ikatlo: Sang-ayon din po ako na tanging interest income mula sa Coco Levy Fund ang ating gagamitin, upang pati ang mga susunod na henerasyon ng magsasaka ay mapakinabangan ito,” Aquino said.
Reiterating the government’s support for the coconut industry, Aquino enjoined the coconut farmers to continue trusting the administration and sought their cooperation in fulfilling their aspirations. (Mindanao Examiner)
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