Farmers to benefit from coco levy, Noy vows

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has promised coconut farmers that he will certify as urgent a bill ensuring that proceeds of the P71-billion coconut levy fund, which has been under litigation for decades, will redound to the benefit of farmers.

Aquino made the promise yesterday in a dialogue with coconut farmers and Cabinet officials at Malacañang.

The President reassured coconut farmers of the government’s resolve to give them the fullest benefit by calling on his allies in Congress to pass the bill the soonest.

“It ensures that benefits from the coconut levy fund will reach the next generations, and will prevent any legal battle in the future,” Aquino said in Filipino.

He explained that in crafting the law, the government would be consulting all the stakeholders every step of the way and in each and every provision of the proposed bill, which will be taken care of by food security czar Francis Pangilinan.

He stressed that coco levy funds should be distinct and separate from the funds allocated in the annual budget of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and said that the administration also agreed to proposals that “only the interest in the income” from the coco levy funds should be utilized, so that all generations to come will benefit from the multibillion-peso fund.

“The truth is we want to give farmers more: wider benefits and stable structures to ensure that the farming sector is taken care of,” Aquino added in Filipino.

In 2012, the Supreme Court issued two favorable decisions on the coconut levy fund. The problem with the two decisions, however, is that the hands of government still continues to be tied unless the high tribunal renders its final rulings on the Cocofed vs Republic case and the Cojuangco vs Republic case.

Aquino expressed openness to issuing an executive order benefiting farmers while the government and farmers are still waiting for the finality of the two SC decisions.

On Tuesday, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. and other leaders of the House of Representatives also met with coconut farmers led by Pambansang Kaisahan ng mga Magbubukid sa Pilipinas chairman Eduardo Mora.

The dialogue, initiated by Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, was with some 71 farmers who trekked for 71 days from Davao to Metro Manila, which they said symbolized the P71-billion coconut levy fund.

“Here at the House of Representatives, I can promise that all the members want the best for the beneficiaries in the coconut industry,” Belmonte said.

He also lauded President Aquino for committing to meet with the coconut farmers yesterday.

“All of us want the coconut industry to prosper again because it is an industry that helps the people, and we want to see that money (the coco levy fund) benefit all stakeholders, including the coconut farmers,” Belmonte said.

“Not only for scholarships but to truly level up the standard of living of the coconut farmers and their families…Having a P71-billion fund at hand and one thing for sure, the government is one with you in establishing the coconut farmers’ trust fund for the benefit of all the millions of coconut farmers of the country,” he added. With Aurea Calica, Zinnia Dela Peña, Paolo Romero