Lawmakers question P6.2-B ‘ghost’ DA project

MANILA, Philippines – Administration congressmen are questioning the additional P6.2 billion in the proposed budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA) purportedly to finance Stage II of what they dub as “ghost irrigation projects” for 2012.

The lawmakers, in a resolution, wanted an explanation from the DA as to where and how the P405 million budget allocation approved by Congress for the Stage I of the same project was spent.

In House Resolution 1641, authored by North Cotabato representatives Jesus Sacdalan and Nancy Catamco, TUCP party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza, and Agham party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones called for a congressional inquiry into the 16,957-hectare Malitubog-Maridagao (Mal-Mar) irrigation program in North Cotabato and Maguindanao.

Around P3 billion had already been spent by the previous administration for the project covering some 2,578 hectares.

Mendoza, spouse of former congresswoman and now Cotabato Governor Emmylou Talino-Mendoza, and Palmones said they were dismayed by the reaction of DA Secretary Proceso Alcala during a luncheon meeting, hosted last Wednesday by the party-list representatives, when the secretary promised the congressmen that he would look into the matter and check on their complaints.

During the hearing on the proposed DA budget for 2012 conducted by the House committee on appropriations, Alcala also promised the House body that he would personally look into the case of Mal-Mar irrigation project.

Palmones said the government is asking for additional P6.2 billion for the project when “they could not even tell us where they brought the P405 million this year.”

Palmones and Mendoza urged the DA chief to replace the head of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and other officials responsible for the non-completion of the project.

“The Mal-Mar Irrigation Project in North Cotabato and Maguindanao covers 16,957 hectares as total target area, subdivided into two stages — Stage I, which targets 10,840 hectares worth P3.1 billion; and Stage II, which covers 6,117 hectares worth P6.2 billion,” the lawmakers said.

Palmones said with the proposed P6.2 billion, the 6,117 hectares would cost the taxpayers P1 million per hectare to irrigate.

In the resolution, the congressmen said that for the year 2011, some P405 million has been allocated for the NIA to increase the coverage areas with an additional 1,712 hectares irrigated lands.

Palmones said the amount was appropriated just to increase the hectarage, not to irrigate.

The lawmakers lamented the NIA proposed P6.2 billion budget for 2012 to implement Stage II of the project, but it has yet to finish Stage I.

“I cannot imagine how the Palace could expect Congress to approve the proposed P6.2 billion for the Stage II of the project when NIA has not completed Stage I. And, Alcala could not even tell us what caused the delay in completing the project and here they are asking for more money?,” said Palmones, who hails from North Cotabato.

He and Mendoza said serious problems and concerns hamper the full completion of the project, including crimes that already claimed 100 lives, to include the life of NIA Regional Director Macmod Mending.

“In July 2011, there was a bombing in the Commission on Audit (CoA) office in Cotabato, and, on August 12, 2011, the NIA office in Cotabato was also bombed, both of which are allegedly connected to the irrigation project,” the lawmakers said in the resolution.

“This is a multi-billion peso project that has obviously become a milking cow. Where did the money go? How come the project has not been completed despite Congress granting the allocations (for the Stage I of the project),” said Palmones.

He said the government should first make sure the Stage I of the project is completed before it asks Congress for more appropriations to start the second stage of the project.

“It is imperative that the project should be immediately completed in order to help achieve the food self- sufficiency and security targets for the Philippines, especially in Mindanao,” the lawmakers said in their resolution.

Palmones said all that Alcala could promise them was that he would have the allegations investigated.

“We now call on Secretary Alcala, the ‘most promising’ Cabinet member, because during the meeting with him, he promised all of us to grant our demands,” he said.

The Lower Chamber will start next week plenary deliberations on the proposed P1.816-trillion national budget for 2012. –Philippine Star