DA: Farmers, fisherfolk won’t get fuel subsidy

Fishermen and farmers will no longer be part of the subsidized fuel program of the government, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said on Monday. “Kasi hindi po ganun kadali, nakita po namin... mas dadami po ‘yung problemang lalabas kaysa dun sa makaka-so-solve," Alcala told reporters after the Gawad Saka awarding ceremonies in Malacañang. He noted that most farmers who use tractors that run on fuel are the well-off ones, and the government cannot identify the poor farmers who use small motor pumps. “So mas minarapat po na ‘yung mas mahihirap na magsasaka at mangingisda, eh, dito po [sa rice subsidy for work] gamitin. Anyway, makakatulong po siya, at the end of the day, makakatulong po siya dun sa pagpasagana sa ani natin," Alcala said. He said the government is having a hard time monitoring the fuel subsidy program. “Nakita natin na even ‘yung fuel subsidy, nahihirapan po tayo na-mo-monitor naman natin, so pag hindi naman po ganun kaganda, siguro huwag na natin pilitin. Baka masayang ‘yung pera ng pamahalaan," he said. Alcala said the administration is now registering agriculture workers and even their farm produce, as well as fisherfolk and their catch. “Lahat po ng magsasaka at mangingisda ay magkakaroon na ng totoong registry, pati po yung kanilang mga inihahalaman, inaalagaan sa palaisdaan o sa mga agriculture parks, ito po ‘yung mga datos," he said. He said the data gathering started last April. The agriculture chief said the data will give government insight into the situation of farmers and fishermen in the provinces. “Nakikita po natin ‘yung real-time situation dun sa ibaba. Pati po kapag halimbawa may mga areas na gusto nating i-validate kung meron pong nagtanim. Kung meron po tayo nito, napakalaking tulong," he said. He further said the data will be used not only by the DA but also by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agrarian Reform, and other agencies. — MRT/VS, GMA News