TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The best way to stop the distribution of lemon farm machinery to farmer beneficiaries is for farmers to reject units which they know are substandard.
This was the advice given by Congressman Allen Jesse Mangaoang to Tabuk City farmers who raised the issue of the very poor quality of machinery supplied by the Department of Agriculture (DA) during the dialogue on possible responses to the Rice Tarrification Law (RTC) here early this week.
The solon said that the problem with farmers is they accept the questionable machinery and then complain later even as he related that the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office had switched from Foton to Nissan brand after he raised the issue of quality of ambulances being distributed to LGUs during a recent House committee hearing.
“We should graduate from the mentality of making do so as not to miss out on the opportunity to get a free machinery. You do not like it because it is of poor quality, then don’t get it,” he said in Ilocano.
Farmer-trader Andre Olat who raised the issue said that what is being given to farmers are “government” machineries and not “farmer’s choice” even as he called on fellow farmers in the city not to accept any equipment from the DA if not “farmer’s choice.”
Olat said that machineries from the DA are usually of poor quality and do not last long.
Asked for reaction, DA Regional Executive Director Cameron Odsey said that the big challenge is under the Government Procurement Reform Act, one cannot specify brands or even just describe the thing to be purchased in such a way to point to the product of just one supplier.
He clarified that the lowest bid is not the only condition but more importantly, the product should meet all the specifications.
When this reporter raised the allegation that in Region 2, the farmers get the brand they want, Odsey said that’s impossible because the rules apply to all and that our informants may be referring to the machinery credit program of the DA.
Odsey said that he welcomes an audit of all the machinery distributed by the DA-Cordillera explaining that the purchase have been cleared by the auditors but as for an audit on the utilization of the machineries, that has not yet been done.
He explained that during the warranty period of one year, if there are damages owing to poor quality, the farmers could advise the DA-Cordillera which will then call the attention of the supplier.
“It’s just like vehicles. Their defects start manifesting after one year specially if constantly in use,” Odsey said in Ilocano clarifying that does not mean the machinery could no longer be used after the warranty but that beyond the warranty period, the association will already shoulder the maintenance.
Odsey said he will never tolerate the procurement of low quality equipment “because corruption results to lesser resources for farmers. Instead of serving more, we serve less.”
Odsey said that whoever is involved in any hanky-panky in his office, in the LGU or among farmer leaders should be exposed.
Odsey explained that the DA carries out the distribution of equipment and other government assistance to farmers in partnership with the agricultural offices of LGUs so that if the farmers have complains about the services of the technician for their area or the LGU agriculture office, they should bring the matter to the region.
Told that the prevailing attitude of farmers is keep their dissatisfaction to themselves for fear of not being given anymore in the future, Odsey said it is hard if specifics are not provided because his office would not know where to start.
This reporter learned from Miriam Pastor of the Rice Program Office of the DA-Cordillera that in 2018 and first half of 2019, they have distributed eight Ford ALZ combine harvesters at the unit price of P1.75M and two four wheel Lovol 45 HP tractors at P827.000.00 apiece.
Tabuk farmer leader Michael Lumas-i, president of the Regional Agriculture and Fishery Council, during the dialogue with Mangaoang that for 2020, the DA-Cordillera has programmed the distribution of 40 harvester combines and 22 four-wheel tractors.**Estanislao Albano, Jr.
