Taxpayers’ money is wasted in awareness campaigns of the government programs and projects. Where before only politicians in the national, provincial and city levels are brandishing their thick faces on tarpaulin signs, the practice had been adopted by politicians in the barangay level as well. The idea of giving information about what their government is doing on billboards and streamers scattered all over is costing so much from the public coffers. We are bombarded of the many things that government is purportedly but people seldom feel anything of such programs and projects. If there are, only those close to the powers that be are able to receive the benefits as the identification and distribution is highly politicized.
The law that requires the placement of billboards on every project is intended to inform about the cost and nature of the project so that the people can oversee its implementation. It is supposed to banner the cost, specifications and the timeframe for its completion. Unfortunately, the information is trivialized for they are buried in small letters under the bold names and shameless faces of the government officials who claim the project as their own. These government officials had developed the temerity to claim credit on the project as if it is being implemented using their money. The billboard of their shameless faces cost much out of the dilapidated funds that are mere remnants of percentage cutters.
Aside from projects that are used for advertisement of shameless government officials, programs are likewise used in similar manner. We also see larger than life-size images of cabinet secretaries that carry slogans of government programs. Most of these portraits are of cabinet men who are eyeing national elective office in the forthcoming national elections. The awareness campaign is funded by taxpayers’ money. They are getting mileage not just on billboards but in media advertisements as well. The budget for these advertisements is too high a burden for the taxpayers. But the practice continues even if elections are still too far. These public officials are eager to establish name recall among the people.
What is appalling is the reality that most of these programs and projects do not create the intended impact on the people. The banners and streamers merely awaken public awareness and nothing more. People get information from media about programs and projects but they do not get the beneficial effects of what they get aware of. The practice will go on beyond the barangay elections as politicians in the municipal, city, province and national levels until the national elections for people to remember the politicians with thick faces.
comments to alellema@yahoo.com
DA issues LEED program grants guidelines to farmers
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has recently released the guidelines of its National Livestock Program’s (NLP) specific for the project grants submitted to avail of the Livestock Economic Enterprise Development (LEED) Program. The guidelines is intended “to level up the production of small-hold farmers.”
The LEED Program intends to strengthen the contribution of the livestock and poultry sub-sectors in increasing the income of small-hold farmers through the distribution of livestock and poultry modules as grant according to the DA-LEED). The same program will provide technical assistance to the small-hold farmers in elevating their production to an enterprise level by value adding and amplifying production.” Under the LEED Program, DA has committed the following:
1) Allotted P2 million to produce chicken meat and eggs by providing 500 heads of hens and 100 roosters, animal-housing, incubator with hatcher and starting feeds and biologics;
2) Provided P1.875 million to produce duck, meat and eggs. The package covers 500 heads of hens and 100 drakes, animal housing, incubator with hatcher and starting feeds and biologics;
3) Allocated P1.5 million for beef cattle, covering 20 heads of animal stocks, forage chopper and silage bags and biologics to produce meat or
4) Allotted P1.5 million package for carabao meat or fatteners. The package includes 20 heads of animal stocks, forage chopper and silage bags and biologics;
5) Provided P2.5 million package for goat or sheep, which will cover 25 does/ewes and two bucks/rams, animal housing, forage chopper and biologics;
6) Provides P1 million package for rabbit including 200 heads, animal housing or cages and feeds and biologics.
Program funds will come from the general appropriations of the DA-regional field offices (RFOs) in partnership with eligible and qualified farmers cooperatives and associations (FCAs) and local government units (LGUs). A memorandum of agreement (MOA) a 1-year effectivity will be signed by the FCAs and LGUs to delineate their respective roles and responsibilities. Signatories in the MOA shall see to it that their roles and duties and responsibilities are complied with, funds are properly, and project is completed as agreed.
MY COMMENT:
The DA-LEED Program under the umbrella National Livestock Program (NLP) is seen to have dual effects: provide livelihood/family revenue and a response to food security. Very critical is the strict adherence to the tenets of the MOA signed by the FCAs and the LGUs – taking the lesson of an earlier failed DA program on animal dispersal!
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