As the Philippine Coconut Authority embarks on talks about the management of the P75-billion coco levy funds, let’s not forget the coconut farmers.
The discussions on the proposed Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan and the huge amount involved could get us off track and lost in technicalities, leaving on the sidelines the genuine concerns of the farmers that need to be addressed.
We urge the PCA to conduct consultations with coconut farmers groups to have a real perspective on their condition and determine how the development plan will be truly beneficial to them.
The strong participation of the coconut farmers will ensure that the Coco Levy Trust Fund will stay on course of promoting the interests of farmers and the coconut industry.
It’s a tragedy that to this day, the marginalized coconut farmers who should have benefited from the levy have not seen the fruit of their forced contribution.
We are also optimistic that the bicameral conference committee will be able to come up with a harmonized version that is responsive to the needs of the farmers.
Habang sinisimulan ng Philippine Coconut Authority ang mga pag-uusap tungkol sa pangangasiwa ng P75-bilyong pondo ng coco levy, huwag natin kakalimutan ang mga magniniyog.
Maaari tayong malihis at maligaw sa mga teknikalidad ng mga pag-uusap tungkol sa panukalang Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan at ng malaking halagang kaugnay nito, at sa huli’y mapabayaan ang tunay na pangangailangan mga mga magniniyog na dapat matugunan.
Hinihimok natin ang PCA na magsagawa ng mga konsultasyon kasama ang mga grupo ng magniniyog upang magkaroon ng totoong perspektibo sa kanilang kalagayan at matukoy kung paano magiging kapaki-pakinabang sa kanila ang development plan.
Matitiyak ng malakas na partisipasyon ng mga magniniyog na maitutulak ang Coco Levy Trust Fund para sa interes ng mga magsasaka at industriya ng pagniniyog.
Ikinalulungkot natin na hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin naaani ng mga abang magniniyog ang pakinabang mula ang sapilitang kontribusyon nila sa levy.
Umaasa tayo na makakapagbuo ang bicameral conference committee ng isang balanseng bersyon na tumutugon sa pangangailangan ng mga magniniyog.