P5 B sought for Benham Rise development

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is seeking an additional P5 billion in its 2018 budget, which will be allocated for the development of the 13-million-hectare Benham Rise as a protected food supply zone.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the additional amount is on top of the P213-billion proposed allocation next year, bringing DA’s total proposal to P218 billion.

“The proposed P5-billion budget for Benham Rise was submitted Wednesday to the Department of Budget and Management during the technical committee hearing on the DA’s budgetary requirements for 2018,” Piñol said.

The additional proposal will be allotted for DA-attached agency Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for the protection and conservation of the Benham Rise.

“It was a last minute addition as a result of the directive of President Duterte for government to protect and conserve the rich fishing area which is now being poached by foreign fishing vessels,” the agri chief said.

Piñol led the exploratory trip to Benham Rise last May 5 to explore what could be done to protect and conserve the fishing grounds.

The budget will be used for the construction of a facility in Benham Rise that will house a research center for marine scientists, a dock for the local fisherfolk, an ice-making plant to keep fish catch fresh, a station for the Coast Guard, and a weather radar station.

Piñol earlier said the DA might have a possible budget cut for 2018 particularly on its allocations for rice and corn, and credit facility program, but was eventually assured by President Duterte’s commitment on its proposal.

“That will have to go through intense scrutiny by the DBM but I’m holding on to the commitment of the President that he will provide the budget that I need,” Piñol said.

The rice and corn program will get the biggest chunk of the proposed budget. Other programs include mechanization, small-scale irrigation and financing.

This year, the DA has a budget allocation of P46 billion.

Piñol is pushing for a higher allocation, saying a possible budget cut for 2018 will likely affect productivity and delay the government’s efforts to achieve rice self-sufficiency in three years.