Ex-agri official:  Farm equipment were not left rusting in South Cotabato

One of the farm machines left behind in a Department of Agriculture compound in South Cotabato. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

COTABATO CITY – The former director of the Department of Agriculture office in Central Mindanao denied Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol’s claim that farm equipment were kept rusting and rotting in South Cotabato.

Reacting to a Philippine Daily Inquirer story she described as “foul” and “one-sided story,” former Regional Executive Director Amalia Jayag-Datukan also told the Inquirer that the equipment Piñol found in DA compound in Tupi, South Cotabato were kept there for about four years.

“It’s not true that almost all equipment there were kept for four years or even a year old. Much more, it is not true that it was kept from the farmers,” Datukan said.

She said farmers and local government units knew that DA compound in Barangay Bolol Mala, Tupi was the delivery point of all DA machine and equipment procurement.

“And once they completed the process of withdrawal, including presentation of receipts for payment of counterpart, they proceed there and withdraw. We did it successfully and smoothly from 2011-2015, and there were no problems then,” she said.

“By the way, where do you want DA to place them? In highways or plazas? The DA compound Tupi is DA property, a big compound, hence it’s DA designated delivery/safekeep area with blue guards and fenced,” she added.

Datukan said the equipment in the compound were small units and were not old and were due for distribution when she was relieved.

She said the equipment should have been distributed in February this year but were not withdrawn by recipients and were, therefore, safely kept at DA compound in Tupi.

Datukan also said the DA suspended the distribution of the equipment because of the election period, and that the farmers’ associations’ recipients of these units were not immediately able to produce the counterpart because they were devastated by the drought.

“We were scheduled to release it last week of June for those who were ready for the counterpart but Director Roy Abaya called up and advised us to suspend the releases until further advise,” Datukan said.

“Unfortunately, I was already out of DA 12,” Datukan said.

Datukan, who served as DA chief for Region 12 from 2011 to July 1 this year, told Piñol in her Facebook posts that she “worked not just as public servant but with heart full of compassion for the best of our farmers. A legacy that was established.”

On Wednesday, Piñol directed all agriculture offices across the country to release immediately all stored equipment and farm inputs to farmer beneficiaries while his legal team is studying the legality of the 15 percent equity from beneficiaries.  SFM