(File photo) MANILA - A party-list lawmaker representing the agriculture sector on Thursday urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to reconsider its decision to deny the Department of Agriculture's appeal for a spending ban exemption on the fuel subsidy for farmers and fisherfolk nationwide amid the increasing oil prices exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In a statement, Magsasaka Rep. Argel Cabatbat said the PHP500-million subsidy from the DA in the form of fuel discount cards would provide targeted assistance to affected sectors and would stand to benefit around 160,000 farmers and fishers. "May PHP500 sanang nakalaan na financial assistance sa porma ng discount card para sa manggagawa ng agrikultura. Higit 160,000 farmers at fisherfolk ang makakatanggap ng diskwento sa krudo na halagang PHP3,000 (There is around PHP500 million allotted for financial assistance in the form of discount cards for our agriculture workers. Around 160,000 farmers and fisherfolk would receive fuel discounts worth PHP3,000)," Cabatbat said. Cabatbat, however, lauded Comelec's decision allowing the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board to continue its distribution of fuel subsidies for public utility vehicle drivers and operators amid an election spending ban. "Ano ba ang pagkakaiba ng driver, magsasaka at mangingisda? Pare-pareho lang naman silang nagdurusa sa pagtaas ng presyo ng petrolyo at bilihin, hindi ba? Dapat may exemption din ang DA, dahil kailangang umabot na ang tulong na ito sa farmers at fisherfolk na luging-lugi na (What difference do the drivers, farmers, and fishers have? All of them have suffered from the skyrocketing prices of fuel and basic goods, right? The DA should also be exempted [from the election spending ban] because they need to provide the much-needed assistance to farmers and fisherfolk)," he said. The DA issued a Memorandum Circular No. 7, series of 2022, dated March 7, 2022 on the implementing guidelines on the provision of fuel discounts to farmers and fisherfolk and allocated PHP500 million. The fuel discount shall be primarily for all machineries used in corn production from land preparation to postharvest activities as well as motorized boats for fishing operations. Agriculture Secretary William Dar appealed to Comelec to exempt its fuel subsidy releases for farmers and fishermen, noting that a month-long ban would deny them the necessary government assistance to aid them from the soaring prices. "One month is long enough to deny our interventions to be given to the farmers. [Our interventions] do not have [political] colors," Dar said in an interview. (PNA) }
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Ukraine , Manila , Philippines , Russia , William Dar , Department Of Agriculture , Commission On Elections Comelec , Argel Cabatbat , Land Transportation , Franchising Regulatory Board , Memorandum Circular , Secretary William Dar , Ile Photo Manilaa Party List Lawmaker Representing The Agriculture Sector On Thursday Urged Commission Elections Comelec To Reconsider Its Decision Deny Department Of 39s Appeal Fora Spending Ban Exemption Fuel Subsidy For Farmers And Fisherfolk Nationwide Amid Increasing Oil Prices Exacerbated By Russia Invasion Ukraine Ina Statement , Agsasaka Rep Argel Cabatbat Said The Php500 Million Subsidy From Da In Form Of Fuel Discount Cards Would Provide Targeted Assistance To Affected Sectors And Stand Benefit Around 160 , 000 Farmers And Fishers Quot May Php500 Sanang Nakalaan Na Financial Assistance Sa Porma Ng Discount Card Para Manggagawa Agrikultura Higit 160 , 000 Farmers At Fisherfolk Ang Makakatanggap Ng Diskwento Sa Krudo Na Halagang Php3 , 000 There Is Around Php500 Million Allotted For Financial Assistance In The Form Of Discount Cards Our Agriculture Workers 160 , 000 Farmers And Fisherfolk Would Receive Fuel Discounts Worth Php3 , 2020 , Uot Cabatbat Said , Owever , Auded Comelec 39s Decision Allowing The Land Transportation And Franchising Regulatory Board To Continue Its Distribution Of Fuel Subsidies For Public Utility Vehicle Drivers Operators Amid An Election Spending Ban Quot Ano Ba Ang Pagkakaiba Ng Driver , Agsasaka At Mangingisda Pare Pareho Lang Naman Silang Nagdurusa Sa Pagtaas Ng Presyo Petrolyo Bilihin , Indi Ba Dapat May Exemption Din Ang Da , Ahil Kailangang Umabot Na Ang Tulong Ito Sa Farmers At Fisherfolk Luging Lugi What Difference Do The Drivers , Farmers , Nd Fishers Have All Of Them Suffered From The Skyrocketing Prices Fuel And Basic Goods , Ight The Da Should Also Be Exempted From Election Spending Ban Because They Need To Provide Much Needed Assistance Farmers And Fisherfolk , Uot He Said The Da Issueda Memorandum Circular No 7 , Eries Of 2022 , Ated March 7 , 022 On The Implementing Guidelines Provision Of Fuel Discounts To Farmers And Fisherfolk Allocated Php500 Million Discount Shall Be Primarily For All Machineries Used In Corn Production From Land Preparation Postharvest Activities As Well Motorized Boats Fishing Operations Agriculture Secretary William Dar Appealed Comelec Exempt Its Subsidy Releases Fishermen , Oting Thata Month Long Ban Would Deny Them The Necessary Government Assistance To Aid From Soaring Prices Quot One Is Enough Our Interventions Be Given Farmers Do Not Have Political Colors , Uot Dar Said In An Interview Pna ,
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