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Saturday, June 18, 2005
Agri office hits decline in budget allocation
By Jenny Molbog-Mendoza
THE Department of Agriculture expressed apprehension over government allocation set aside for the agency, saying its budget has continued to decline since 1998 even as cost of operations has steadily been increasing.
DA 11 regional technical director for operations Dr. Carlos Mendoza said Wednesday the allocation of the entire agency in 1998 was pegged at P20 billion.
"Since then, the budget has already been declining," he said.
For 2005, the entire budget allotted for the agency was only P14.3 billion.
Mendoza said such amount is "very insufficient," considering that all of the agency's regional offices throughout the country "would get a share of the pie."
"Of this budget, the DA 11 has only received P175 million. When Afma (Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act) was created in 1997, sinasabi na ang DA ay makakatanggap ng additional P17 billion, over and above the regular budget. But never 'yan na-realize ng agency," he said.
Mendoza said the reason behind failure to implement such is that the government lacks budget.
With this very meager budget, Mendoza said, the local government units (LGUs) should take their part in implementing projects that are essential in the development of agriculture.
"Yong mga subsidy for seed, fertilizer, at livestock-raising, dapat sa LGU na 'yan kasi palaki naman nang palaki ang kanilang IRA (internal revenue allotment) every year, samantalang kami naman ay piliit nang paliit ang budget," he said.
For the year 2006, the DA 11 is presently lobbying for an increase of at least seven percent in its annual allocation.
"Pero parang suntok sa buwan na 'yan," he said.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (June 18, 2005 issue)
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