Yap defends P17B anomaly
September 25,2011
Former Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap, now 3rd District Representative asked for fairness on the broiling controversies over alleged billion peso anomalies on the implementation of agriculture programs under his watch – the P7.5B "ghost" farm to market road and the most recent the alleged P10 billion mishandling of funds under the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) or RA 9496.
Yap, interviewed by DYRD "Inyong Alagad", categorically stated "there was no dissipation of funds" branding as "misleading and baseless" reports that the P10 billion funds were drained from the ACEF while crying foul over accusations of P7.5B irregular fund disbursements for farm to market roads released shortly after he left the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Yap, reacting to moves to pin him down on the Agriculture Department's alleged mishandling of funds during his term told the Chronicle that "it must be done objectively sparing us all the political agenda behind the current moves".
Yap, as DA secretary, was generally known by many as within the elite Cabinet "inner circle" of the former president Gloria M. Arroyo.
Yap expressed grave concern on the manner investigations are being conducted regarding alleged funds misuse of the Agriculture Department pleading to probers not to engage in a witch hunt.
YAP POINTS FINGER TO CONGRESS
Yap pointed out that the Department of Agriculture (DA) has been providing the oversight committees of both Senate and Congress status reports on the ACEF.
"Congress cannot say they don't know what is happening to ACEF. They know. If they don’t understand – banat kaagad. Hindi naman tama yun," bemoaned Yap.
"When there is a program you want to question, go ahead, look for the truth, and if there is a problem there is a time to ask for accountabilities."
ACEF is a special purpose fund, sourced from duties collected from importation of agri products and used for a wide range of agricultural activities.
Yap also denounced the Senate Oversight Committee for implicating him on the alleged anomalous release of P7.5B for farm to market roads – "Let's be fair. I left the DA February 2010. The questioned disbursements were in January 2010 to June 2010. If there was anything irregular it was not under my watch".
Yap left the Arroyo Cabinet in order to run for the third district of Bohol after the then incumbent congressman Adam Jala's father – Eladio – who was seeking re-entry into Congress, quit his political move, apparently contented with the rank of Commissioner at the SEC (Security and Exchange Commission) given to him by the Arroyo administration.
Uncowed by the accusations, Yap lashed back saying "Anybody with a sense of justice and fairness knows. Calibrate your attack and your response".
Yap formally handed over the reins of the DA to DA Usec Atty. Bernie G. Fondevilla last March 10, 2010.
FARM TO MARKET ROADS
Yap emphasized that all DA funds for farm to market roads, driers, ports and other agri projects were downloaded directly to the LGU's, Barangay Captains and the DPWH for implementation.
"Our disbursements were a model to the whole country since we gave the funds to those who have the expertise in the projects. We did not have a hand in the implementation.".
But public perception on his involvement on the mishandling of agri funds has turned negative in view of his perceived closeness to former President Arroyo who is facing several cases of alleged plunder of government funds
Majority of texters and callers to "Radio Merkado" believed that Yap, as cabinet secretary, dipped his hands into billions of funds in his more than four years as DA secretary. Even before the investigation, such anomalies in the past were derisively called "farm to pocket" roads by detractors.
Yap is the longest serving Agriculture secretary in the Arroyo administration having sat as "food czar" starting in August 2004 – July, 2005, Oct 2006 to March 2010.
ACEF FUNDS
Questions were raised on the implementation of the ACEF reportedly plagued with ghost borrowers, favored borrowers, kickbacks for quick loan releases and the availment of ACEF funds in total disregard of program guidelines.
Yap stressed that "I merely implemented the law according to approved guidelines. There are procedures followed in the dispensing of funds".
Reacting to accusations of favoring certain borrowers, Yap said that all ACEF fund beneficiaries are industry leaders with proven track records in agriculture.
Several companies who benefited from ACEF funding are now successful egg producers, mango exporters and vegetable growers including one from Loboc and several beneficiaries from Bohol, Yap said.
These companies, thru ACEF were able to compete in the market by accessing funds with minimal interest and collateral requirements, added Yap.
Yap lamented the manner in which his detractors have taken pains to highlight the negative side of the Program while ignoring the hundreds who benefited from ACEF.
"Why is nobody talking about the many whose agri businesses flourished because of the ACEF? The DA must come out and reveal these success stories to balance the picture on ACEF"
But according to COA reports, borrowers who did not reply to confirmation letters sent by the government had loan balances totaling P2.1B, those who returned the letters to the agency for various reasons had total balances of
P370M and loan beneficiaries with total borrowings of P66.4M failed to pay back their loans due to closure of their companies badly hit by typhoons and included firms that no longer exist.
According to Senator Franklin Drilon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, some P2.5B were given to "ghost borrowers".
But Yap countered "a low repayment rate does not make the ACEF Program anomalous or a failure. There may well be other reasons to re-think or re-study the ACEF but it must be done objectively".
Yap, who seldom makes himself available to the local media, gave a rare but exclusive radio interview over DYRD last Thursday during the launching of his HEART project - free flu shots for over 4,500 teachers in the 3rd and 1st districts and Bikathon covering the 3rd district. (CMV)
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