I AM VOTING YES, WITH RESERVATIONS, PARTICULARLY ON THE PROVISION AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (DA) TO ENTER INTO MEMORANDA OF AGREEMENT (MOAS) WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS (DPWH) IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE

₱33-BILLION FARM-TO-MARKET ROADS (FMR) PROGRAM. THIS IMPLEMENTATION MODALITY RAISES SIGNIFICANT EXECUTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY CONCERNS.

I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE PRESIDENT TO VETO THIS SPECIFIC PROVISION, FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

NUMBER 1:VIOLATION OF THE SPIRIT OF REPUBLIC ACT 8435 OR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES MODERNIZATION ACT OR THE AFMA.

SEC. 52 OF THE AFMA CLEARLY STATES THAT THE PLANNING      AND                              PRIORITIZATION                              OF FARM-TO-MARKET ROADS BELONG TO THE D.A., IN CLOSE COORDINATION WITH L.G.U.’S AND OUR FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK.

PINAGPAPASYAHAN ITO BATAY SA ANO ANG KAILANGAN NG SEKTOR NG AGRIKULTURA, HINDI NG PANGKA-LAHATANG PRAYORIDAD SA PAGAWAING BAYAN. ‘DI LANG PROYEKTO NG PAGSE-SEMENTO ANG MGA F.M.R. AYON MISMO SA BATAS, KASANGKAPANG PANG-EKONOMIYA RIN ITO NG PAGSIGURO NG ATING PAGKAIN.

NUMBER 2: CAPACITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY CONCERNS WITH DPWH

THE D.A. ITSELF HAS ADMITTED THAT D.P.W.H. IS CURRENTLY FACING A MASSIVE BACKLOG OF ABOUT 60,000 KILOMETERS OF UNFINISHED FMRs. DOON PA LANG, DAPAT NA TAYONG HUMINTO SANDALI BAGO BIGYAN SILA ULIT NG MALAKING PONDO.

IF WE WANT TO BOOST FARMERS’ PRODUCTIVITY, REDUCE THEIR TRANSPORT COSTS, AND IMPROVE THEIR INCOMES, THE D.A. IS BEST EQUIPPED TO DETERMINE WHICH ROADS MATTER MOST FOR PRODUCTION AREAS AND MARKET ACCESS, SO PUBLIC FUNDS ARE USED WHERE THEY BRING THE BIGGEST AGRICULTURAL AND ECONOMIC GAINS.

NUMBER 3: GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND P.P.P. OPTION

IF THE ARGUMENT FOR ALLOWING THE DA TO ENTER  INTO  MOAS  WITH  DPWH  FOR FARM-TO-MARKET ROADS IS TO “SPEED UP” INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING AND MEET ECONOMIC TARGETS, THE ISSUE IS NOT WHICH AGENCY IS ASSIGNED, BUT WHETHER IT HAS THE CREDIBILITY AND CAPACITY TO DELIVER.

WE SHOULD UTILIZE THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP CODE PASSED IN 2023 TO ACCELERATE INFRASTRUCTURE WHILE ENSURING FISCAL     DISCIPLINE                                         AND ACCOUNTABILITY—WITHOUT  OVERLOADING D.P.W.H.

HINDI NAMAN BASTA LANG MASABING MABILIS, DUN NA TAYO SA MABILIS. ANG ISYU AY KREDIBILIDAD AT KAPASIDAD.

TULAD NG PAGDIDISIPLINA SA ATING MGA ANAK, HINDI BINIBIGYAN NG REWARD ANG MASAMANG PAG-UUGALI. NAGBIBIGAY TAYO NG TIME-OUTS. KAILANGANG MAKUHA ULIT NG D.P.W.H. ANG TIWALA NG TAUMBAYAN.

BUMOTO AKO NG YES UPANG MATIYAK ANG TULOY-TULOY NA SERBISYO AT KABUHAYAN NG SAMBAYANANG PILIPINO. PERO SA PUNTONG ITO, KAILANGAN NG VETO NG PANGULO PARA MAPROTEKTAHAN ANG MAGSASAKA, MABANTAYAN ANG PONDO NG BAYAN, AT MAPANATILING NAKATUTOK  ANG  MGA  KALYENG  SAKAHAN  SA

PAGPAPAKAIN SA BAYAN.