Bayan Muna: 'Usad pagong ang ayuda ng gobyerno sa mga magsasaka!' 90% of farmers have not yet receive aid

Photo coutesy of Facebook @Bayan Muna 

Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Eufemia Cullamat has again criticized the slow  distribution of relief and financial aid to local farmers affected the crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cullamat expressed disappointment after President Rodrigo Duterte’s fifth report to Congress over the implementation of the Bayanihan Act of 2020.


According to the report, there are still 90 percent of local farmers have yet to receive the much need financial aid after almost two months since the lockdown started.

The lady lawmaker said five weeks into the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), only 53,446 out of 591, 246 target beneficiaries have received aid.

“90 percent of farmers have yet to receive aid under the Financial Subsidy to Rice Farmers program,” said Cullamat.

“Napakatagal ng ayuda ng gubyerno sa ating magsasakang nagugutom na. Panglimang linggo na ng ECQ ngunit 9 sa 10 magsasaka ang hindi pa nabibigyan ng tulong. Hanggang ngayon tinatapos pa lang nila ang paglilista ng magsasakang benepisyaryo. Mamamatay na lang ang mga tagalikha ng pagkain bansa, wala pa rin ang ayuda,” she added.



The Bayan Muna Representative noted that the 591,000 target beneficiaries are still small compare to the 9.7 million farmers and fisherfolk affected by the Luzon lockdown.

“Ipinapakita ng datos mismo na kulang na kulang at usad-pagong ang ayuda ng gubyerno. Kaya nagiinisyatiba ang mga tao para tumulong. Nakakabahala na imbes na pasalamatan ay ikinukulong pa ang mga tumutulong,” said Cullamat.

“Ngayon ay may dagdag requirement pa na LGU certification bago makapagabot ng tulong. Kung hindi kaya ng gubyerno na mabigyan ng ayuda ang mamamayan, hayaan sana nilang magtulungan ang mga tao,” she added.

Cullamat emphasized that the Department of Agriculture (DA) should not only fast-track the distribution of the cash aid but also expand its target beneficiaries because the current estimates are far from reality.


“Dapat ay bilisan ng Department of Agriculture ang distribusyon ng ayuda at palawakin ang target nila,” the lawmaker said.