'Where will
billions for rice go?'
Malacañang asked to itemize spending
SEN. Francis Escudero yesterday
called for an "itemized spending" of the billions of
pesos Malacañang has ordered released to stave off a
rice crisis.
"This will make for easy monitoring
of funds, make their recipients accountable, and prevent
farm-to-market road funds from becoming farm-to-pocket
funds," said Escudero, chair of the Senate ways and
means panel.
"With funds for agriculture now
flowing like water in an irrigation canal, the
government should make public where, for how much, and
for what purpose will the money be spent," he added.
AGRICULTURE Secretary Arthur Yap
yesterday said the key to increasing rice production is by
continuously spending on irrigation, ensuring the
implementation of the national seeds program, and
distributing flatbed dryers to farming areas.
Funding for these would come from 5
percent of the surplus of at least P100 billion registered
by government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs)
and government financial institutions (GFIs) in 2007.
President Arroyo, upon arrival from
Hong Kong Tuesday night, said she would issue an
administrative order directing the GOCCs and GFIs to use
the 5 percent (at least P5 billion) for rice production
and other pro-poor programs. The GOCCs and GFIs will
coordinate with the agriculture and social welfare
departments in identifying the projects which will be
implemented in three years.
Chief justice asked to take over
from Cory in fight vs corruption
MULTI-SECTORAL groups want to ask Chief
Justice Reynato Puno to take over from former President Corazon
Aquino the fight for truth against corruption in the government.
"We will try to see how the public can rise
to occasion to face post-Cory's disappearance from the public on
account of her health. We are already seeing in the horizon
Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno," Archbishop Oscar Cruz said
yesterday.
Cruz said Puno is perceived by the public as
a man of integrity, wisdom and charisma.
