Ifugao rep pushes probe of ‘missing’ NLDC funds

LAGAWE, Ifugao – Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat has urged an investigation on how “missing funds” disbursed by the National Livelihood Development Corp., an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, saying he coursed P5 million of his Priority Development Assistance Fund but this didn’t reach his constituents.

He assailed difficulty in securing assistance for his constituents from the NLDC, adding he allotted the P5 million as livelihood assistance to farmers in Ifugao.

The Department of Budget and Management reportedly coursed the money through NLDC, which then said the best way to use the funds was to invest in an animal dispersal program.

“I thought they would release the checks or the fund which we will then give to the local government units, who will then purchase the animals. But as it turned out, they wanted to purchase and deliver the farm animals themselves,” Baguilat said.
On the day that Baguilat had arranged for the beneficiaries to come together in Ifugao to receive the animals, the supplier reportedly only provided 40 piglets, 30 goats and 150 ducks.

“I could not believe that for P5 million, that was all that I got. I was dismayed. To make matters worse, there was no liquidation report, so I do not know how the P5 million was spent,” Baguilat said.

Following his complaints with the NLDC, the agency eventually gave his office the money to buy another 150 piglets, saying they could now buy the piglets themselves.
“They left it at that. There was no accounting. I am really disappointed. This should not be tolerated. This is corruption. And we don’t know if this is happening in other districts, too, or if this is happening in other branches of government,” Baguilat said.

“I have heard complaints from others saying that they got cows for dispersal that were very thin and seedlings that did not sprout. Somebody is earning from all of these,” he added.

Baguilat has thus called on the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Budget and Management to closely study the procurement system to investigate because people’s money is at stake.

He said if findings reveal irregularities in the procurement, those responsible should be held accountable.

“We are doing our part to help our constituents. The other government agencies should respond for the good of our people so that they know that their taxes are going to the right projects,” he said.