Comelec asked to allow fund disbursements to farmers

Liberal Party (LP) presidential candidate Mar Roxas appealed yesterday to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to grant the petitions to allow the release of assistance to farmers affected by the pro- longed drought.

Roxas said the Comelec should lift its ban on the release of funds and other livelihood support “so our farmers and other affected communities can receive the appropriate assistance they need from the government at the soonest time possible.”

“We are deeply affected by the hardships of the farmers and affected communities and it is totally unacceptable to me that those providing us food are the ones now going hungry,” Roxas said in a statement.

A number of local governments and farmer groups petitioned the Comelec to either issue a certificate of exception for social welfare services of provincial governments or issue exemptions from the ban on the release, disbursement or expenditure of public funds.

The ban is supposed to prevent incumbent executive offi from using government funds to solicit votes during elections.

“We are faced with a very serious problem and we now ask the Comelec to expedite the solution. This call is an invitation for the Comelec to be part of this solution,” Roxas said.

Several governors in Mindanao have declared their provinces under a state of calamity in response to the adverse effects of El Niño on the lives and livelihood of farmers and communities.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration projected that by the end of the month, 40 percent of the country or 32 provinces, mostly in Mindanao, are likely to experience drought.

The Department of Agriculture estimated that the damage to crops brought by El Niño phenomenon has reached nearly P10 billion.

Meanwhile, political analysts believe LP candidate Leni Robredo will dominate the vice presidential race for being honest about the shortcomings of the Aquino government.

Prospero de Vera said Robredo made a mark when she admitted during the last vice presidential debate the government has its shortcomings, including the failure to improve the traffic situation and mass transit system in Metro Manila.

He said Robredo’s statements allowed her to “come across as her own candidate” and not just someone who was anointed by President Aquino.

Robredo may gain the support of undecided voters since she is not associated with the problems on urban traffic, congestion and other issues, he added.

Sociologist and political analyst Nicole Curato said Robredo has the advantage over other aspirants due to her experience in the grassroots sector.