President Duterte is pushing for the immediate return of the multi-billion coco levy fund to farmers through programs that will advance their welfare and develop the industry.
The President said a committee composed of representatives from Executive branch, Congress, and the private sector would handle the disposition of the funds.
“It should be returned to the people. The law is actually clear,” the President said in a press conference in Davao City last Friday.
The President admitted that his family was among those who paid the coconut levy during the Marcos administration.
“Pati kami, nag-contribute diyan sa levy na yan, ‘yung pamilya namin. My mother’s coconut, not ours,” he said.
The President, however, said cash releases directly to the farmers was already far-fetched since the number of affected persons could no longer be determined.
Instead, he said, the Supreme Court suggested that R75-billion coconut levy, currently held in trust, must be used for projects for the benefit of the coconut farmers and the industry.
“‘Yung pera medyo malabo na the Supreme Court said so. Pero kung isauli, I want it returned, by way of building institutions, agencies that would enhance the coconut industry. ASAP ako diyan kasi pera ng tao ‘yan,” Duterte said.
The coconut levy was taxes collected from farmers during the Marcos administration meant to develop the industry.
They, however, were diverted by Marcos cronies to buy businesses for their own benefit.
In 2014, the Supreme Court upheld a Sandiganbayan ruling that awarded shares of San Miguel Corp. bought using the coco levy to the government. The decision ordered the funds be used only for the benefit of all coconut farmers and for the development of the coconut industry.
Recently, the High Court rejected the government’s move to recover the shares in San Miguel Corp. from coconut levy funds that are the subject of a 1990 compromise deal. (GENALYN D. KABILING)
kung pinaghirapan ng mga magsasaka ibigay na lang sa kanila
halos dugo’t pawis ang pinuhunan ng mga farmers ang fund na yan so dapat na makabalik sa kanila para naman masuklian ang paghihirap nila
lahat naman nag sakripisyo at si danding lang nakinabang sa fund na yan
magulang ni digong naghuhul na maibalik tog din sa fund na yan pero di nakinabang kaya dapatlga sa mga magsasaka
sa bulsa ng pangulo yan mapupunta di sa mga magsasaka
hay naku naman miss hindi yan ganyan in fact Duterte is a frank person
inaackso na yan ng pangulo dahil ibabalik yan sa mga farmers para maayos ang buhay nila.
hoooo kasi naman Duterte asan na siguro napabhay mo na noh!
maghinty ka dahil ako mismo sasaksak jan sa malaki mong abaga ng pera na yan hindi naman kakalimutan ni Duterte ang mga magsasaka.
huwag ka mag-alala dahl malapi na maackso ni pangulo at maggng maayos na ang buhay ng mga farmers
ibalik sa nararapat kung saan dapat ang fund na yan,pinag hirapan din naman nila yan.
ganyan naman ang gagawin ni digong,kung ano ang tama yun ang gagawin nya.
dapat naman talagang ibalik ito sa mga magsasaka dahil sila ang nag hirap nito.
yan naman ang nais ni digong na mangyari.
patalsikin na yan si detae!wala naman nagagawa.
mag sama sama kayo ng mga am0 mong bulak ang pag iisip.
ugok!kung yang ulo kaya ang patalsikin tutal wala namang laman diba.
ibubulsa lang yan ni dutiti!daming alam!
haha..hindi naman sya si panot.
bka ganyan ang ginagawa ng mga amu amohan mo.
walang ibang gusto ang ating pangulo kundi ang mapaganda ang ating bayan!
Para sa akin, lahat ng ginagawa ni tatay digong ay para sa ating bayan kaya naman tigilan na ang paninira sakanya! !!
saludo talaga ako sa ating presidente! Lahat ng makakabuti sa bayan ginagawa nya!
wala namang kwenta yang presidente nyo!!