Duterte pushes return of coco levy fund to farmers
President announces formation of committee to take charge of disposing funds
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Published November 12, 2016, 3:11 PM
By Genalyn Kabiling
President Rodrigo Duterte is pushing for the immediate return of the multi-billion-peso 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 the executive branch, Congress and the private sector would handle the disposition of the funds.
MB FILE—A coconut plantation in Malvar, Batangas. (KJ ROSALES) | mb.com.ph
MB FILE—A coconut plantation in Malvar, Batangas. (KJ ROSALES) | mb.com.ph
“It should be returned to the people. The law is actually clear,” the president said in a press conference in Davao Friday, November 11.
Duterte disclosed that his family was among those who paid the coconut levy during the Marcos administration. “Pati kami, nag-contribute diyan sa levy na iyan, iyong pamilya namin. My mother’s coconut, not ours,” he said.
But the president said releasing cash directly to the farmers is far-fetched since the number of affected persons could no longer be determined.
Instead, he invoked the Supreme Court ruling that the P75 billion coconut levy, currently held in trust, must be used for projects for the benefit of the coconut farmers and the industry.
“Iyong 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 iyan,” Duterte said.
The coconut levy refers to taxes collected from farmers during the Marcos administration meant to develop the industry. But the levies 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 Corporation bought using the coco levy to the government. The same decision ordered 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 from coconut levy funds that are the subject of a 1990 compromise deal.
Tags: coco levy, coconut, Duterte pushes return of coco levy fund to farmers, farmers, fund, Manila Bulletin, Rodrigo Duterte