TAGBILARAN CITY – A come-backing senatorial candidate has said that the implementation of farm inputs, such farm equipment for farmers is somewhat selective that may defeat the purpose.
Reelectionist senator Ping Lacson told the audience in a consultative forum attended by multi-sectoral groups that there might be “inappropriate in the implementation of farm equipment or something may not be proper in the way the assistance like in post-harvest to agriculture” is implemented.
He also said that the farm equipment being distributed to the country-sides as assistance is made in China.
Lacson lamented that why the farmers pay rent to the equipment owned and provided by the government.
He was told that rice farmers, for example, are made to pay high rates of equipment rent that this may be a source of corruption.
He said to address this he would look into this mess once he’ll be elected back to the Senate considering that there’s an oversight body to do this.
In an interview, one of the participants said that the high prices of farm goods and harvest cost push the prices food in the tourism industry high.
Bellevue resort manager said that they used to import fish from Cebu other food stuff from elsewhere even considering Bohol is surrounded by sea. This is because fish products in Bohol is very expensive.
One of the solutions to arrest the situation (high prices) is thru buy-back scheme as exemplified by Jagna town.
Jagna town Mayor Joseph Ranola shared their experience with this buy back scheme he initiated that somehow maintains fish prices and farm products they bought from farmers. The said buy-back system has helped eliminate middlemen in the process.
Attending the Lacson’s Konsultahang Bayan were Steven B. Lim, Bohol Chamber of Commerce Inc. (BCCI) president, Philippine Chamber of Commerce Industry (PCCI) Regional Governor Engr. Albert Uy, Ivy Wall resort manager Doer R. Escoto and Bohol Association of Hotels, Resorts, and Restaurants (BAHRR) president Andrew Fernandez, Bellevue resort manager. (Ric Obedencio)
