THE 1-AK party-list group (1-Aangat Ka Pilipino) yesterday urged the Senate Blue Ribbon committee to summon 30 people’s organizations (POs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) and suppliers involved in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.

Melchor S. Plaza, the group’s deputy secretary general, said every NGO is now suspected of having benefited from the fertilizer fund and it is only fair that they be publicly identified and made to account for the money they received from the Department of Agriculture. "They gave NGOs a bad name."

He said that one of the main advocacies of 1-AK is to raise the level of livelihood of the poor, particularly farmers and fishermen, who are the principal victims of the scam whose alleged mastermind is Jocelyn "Joc Joc" Bolante, former agriculture undersecretary for finance.

He enumerated these NGOs as Gabaymasa Development Foundation Inc., Kabus nga Mag-uuma ug Managat Foundation, Las Marias Foundation Inc., Sikap Yaman Foundation Inc., Aaron Foundation Inc., Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc., People’s Organizations for Progress and Development Foundation Inc., Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc.

National Organization for Agricultural Enhancement and Productivity Inc., MOP Development Organization Inc., Uswag Guimaras Foundation Inc., Antique Development Foundation Inc., Ikaw at Ako Foundation Inc., Lanao Foundation Inc., National Organization for Agricultural Enhancement and Productivity, Samahan ng mga Manininda ng Prutas sa Gabi Inc.

Philippine Environmental and Ecological Development Association Inc., Rodenaline Foundation Inc., Worker’s Cooperative of the Philippines, Feshan Philippines Inc., S.L. Agritech Corporation, Malayan Pacific Trading Corporation, Modern Times Enterprises Inc.

Good Earth Technologies International Inc., LCV Design and Fabrication Corporation, Masaganang mga Bukirin Foundation Inc., Bukid Tanglaw Livelihood Foundation Inc., Rural Empowerment Assistance and Development Foundation Inc., Kaanyagan Mindanao Foundation Inc. and Zamboanga City Fruit Industry Development Inc.

Plaza said upon verification of the Commission on Audit (COA), only National Organization for Agricultural Enhancement and Productivity Inc., Samahan ng mga Manininda ng Prutas sa Gabi Inc., Aaron Foundation Inc. and People’s Organization for Progress and Development Foundation Inc. had an office with signs outside, office equipment and personnel.

He said that the Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc., Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc. and Rural Empowerment Assistance and Development Foundation Inc. had offices and signs outside, but were closed at the time of validation.