Pols’ tiff over beach resort hampers DA farmers proj

CABUGAO, Ilocos Sur – A dispute over a beach resort between the municipal government here and First District Rep. Deogracias Savellano has affected the delivery of farm equipment from the Dept. of Agriculture for farmers.  

This prompted the Solidarity of Peasants Against Exploitation (STOP Exploitation) to urge Ilocos Sur officials to set aside politics and focus on delivering needed support to advance agrarian development.

              “We are urging all parties concerned to shape up, leave projects and services for farmers’ out of their differences. We encourage other farmer’s organizations in the province to be vigilant, let us not let incidence like this to go unnoticed from the public,” said Zaldy Alfiler, secretary general of the group.

              This came after STOP Exploitation’s municipal chapter, Alyansa Dagiti Kumpang ti Cabugao (ALCUMPAC), reported that the rift between the local government of Cabugao and the family of First District Rep. Deogracias Savellano has affected the delivery of farm equipment from the Dept. of Agriculture.

Farmers associations in barangays Salapasap, Baclig, Nagsingcaoan, Sabang and Sisim were supposed to have received hand tractors and water pumps, and a 4-wheel tractor for Aragan.

              “We have received reports from our members that six farmers associations were supposed to receive tractors from the DA but according to the department’s personnel in Batac, Ilocos Norte, Savellano asked to put the release of the equipment on hold,” Alfiler said.

              The local government of Cabugao is currently at odds with the family of Savellano concerning jurisdiction and management of the Cabugao Beach Resort. The Sangguniang Bayan, through a resolution faulted the lawmaker’s daughter Nicole, of trespassing after she refused to vacate the facility to facilitate the bidding process for the new lease contract.

He added that before June 24, the agricultural department released similar support to farmers’ organizations in the second district.

Alfiler said according to leaders’ of ALCUMPAC, this is not the first time that awarding of assistance for farmers in the municipality was delayed due to unnecessary intervention of politicians.

              “The last thing we need is politicians getting back at each other at the expense of the farmers. It is appalling that public officials let politics affect the delivery of vital assistance,” said Alfiler.