Still no guidelines for P41B direct food purchases in budget, laments Pangilinan

The two-year delay in the issuance of guidelines for the full implementation of Sagip Saka Act of 2019 has left hanging farmers and fisherfolk who should benefit from the over P41 billion intended for direct food purchases in the 2021 national budget, Senator Kiko Pangilinan said Thursday.

“Maganda sanang stimulus o pantulak itong P41 billion para sa kabuhayan ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda, lalo na ngayong pandemya,” he said.

“Nakapaloob itong malaking halagang ito sa national budget ng 2021. Aandar at gugulong ang ekonomiya sa kanayunan pag nagastos itong P41 billion para bilhin ang ani at huli ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda,” Pangilinan said.

“Kaya lang, matatapos na ang taon at wala pa ring IRR o implementing rules and regulations ng GPBB. May pera na nakalaan para direktang makabili ang national agencies sa mga magsasaka pero nabibitin pa,” he added, referring to the Government Procurement Policy Board.

Sagip Saka’s IRR provides that government agencies buying agricultural and fisheries products follow the procedures for negotiated procurement under the Government Procurement Reform Act or Republic Act 9184.

The Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) is mandated to review and amend its negotiated procurement guidelines to effectively implement and support Sagip Saka.

GPPB, however, is yet to release the draft procurement guidelines even though Sagip Saka’s IRR was signed two years ago or on October 2019.

“We have been hammering for the approval of the rules and guidelines for direct purchases from farmers and fisherfolk… I hope they can explain. This is long overdue. This is supposed to be for 2021 purchases. And we’re already ending 2021,” Pangilinan said during a hearing of the Senate finance committee on Wednesday.

“They have been explaining and until now they are still explaining. Really, there seems to be no sense of urgency. I hope that this is not deliberate. I hope this was not [a case of] foot-dragging,” he added.

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)