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No. 114 - 15 March 2006

Bigger pie

The Senate Committees on Agriculture and Blue Ribbon revealed that the P728 million fund is just a portion of the Larger Fertilizer Fund released during the 2004 elections. The Department of Agriculture received P2.806 billion for the purchase of farm inputs and implements before the 10 May 2004 elections.

Nature of Fund/Program SARO Number and Date Amount
GMA Farm Inputs and Implements
 E-04-00164 (Feb. 3, 2004)
 P0.728 billion
GMA Rice and Corn
 E-04-00294 (Feb. 11, 2004)
 P1.102 billion
Marcos Wealth for CARP
 E-04-01090 (Apr. 28, 2004)
 P0.544 billion
GMA Rice Program and
Fertilizer Procurement and Distribution Component
 From Agency Budget Matrix (regular budget)
P0.432 billion

Criminal culpability

The Senate committees recommended the overhaul of the Department of Agriculture. Filing of criminal and administrative charges were recommended against Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante, Secretary Luis Lorenzo, Undersecretary Ibarra Poliquit, Undersecretary Belinda Gonzales, Assistant Secretary Jose Felix Montes, and all DA regional directors who participated in the fertilizer scam. President Arroyo (who may have had knowledge of the Bolante requests for funds) was also asked to account for the mismanagement of the fertilizer fund. Private sector partners or suppliers who connived with the DA in overpricing diluted fertilizers and ghost deliveries could also be charged.

Holding the (empty) bag

Farmer groups that testified in the Senate Fertilizer Scam hearings and claimed that they had not received fertilizer assistance:

1. Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP)
2. Pambansang Ugnayan ng mga Nagsasariling Organisasyon sa Kanayunan (UNORKA)
3. Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas
4. Kalipunan ng mga Maliliit na Magniniyog sa Pilipinas
5. Katipunan ng Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan (KASAMA-TK)
6. Pahagpong sa mga Mag-uuma sa Panay (PAMANGGAS)
7. Katipunan ng Samahang Magsisibuyas (KASAMNE)
8. Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon
9. KMP-Southern Tagalog
10. Samahan ng Gugti ng mga Parag-uma – Sinirangan Bisaya (SAGUPA-SB)
11. SAGUPA-SB, Northern Samar
12. National Federation of Peasant Women (AMIHAN)
13. KMP-Bicol

Source: Senate Resolution No. 327, Committee Report No. 54 (filed on 1 March 2006)

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