Aquino mulls executive order on coco levy fund

MANILA, Philippines–President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday said he was considering issuing an executive order on the controversial coco levy fund pending the approval of a law specifying how the fund will be managed.

“Bagaman mas maganda kung mayroong batas, habang wala po ito, inaaral na rin po natin ang mungkahi ninyong gumawa na muna ako ng isang executive order,” Aquino said after he met with farmers’ group Kilos Magniniyog in Malacañang.

(Although it is better if there is a law, while it is not yet approved, we are also studying the proposal to issue an executive order.)

President Benigno Aquino III. AP FILE PHOTO

Aquino said he already issued a directive for concerned agencies and stakeholders to agree on how the fund will be used as soon as the Supreme Court decides on the motion for partial reconsideration.

In September, 71 members of the Kilos Magniniyog or the Coco Farmers Movement embarked on a 71-day protest march from Davao City to Malacañang to pressure the government to issue an order allowing the use of the P71-billion trust fund for the benefit of the farmers.

While the Supreme Court in 2012 had decided in favor of the farmers and the government, it has yet to decide on the motion for partial reconsideration on the case filed against the Philippine Coconut Producers Federation (Cocofed).

“Hindi po tayo papayag na habang naghihintay tayo sa pasya ng Korte Suprema, ay mapapabayaan naman ang ating mga magsasaka ng niyog,” Aquino said.

(While waiting for the decision of the Supreme Court, we will not allow that our coconut farmers will be neglected.)

To ensure that the needs of farmers will be taken care of, the government is willing to sell the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) for a minimum of P1.1 billion to add to the funds allocated for the sector, Aquino said.

Former President Ferdinand Marcos and his cronies were accused of using the tax collected from coconut farmers for their personal profit.

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