Latest Update from Region 8 2 SETS OF EQUIPT BOUGHT BY LGUs, 1 ACQUIRED 2016

A few minutes ago, I received a copy of the report submitted by the DA Regional Office on the alleged defective farm equipment distributed to farmers’ groups.

Report from DA Regional Director Milo delos Reyes:

1. Alangalang, Leyte:

Nilda Briones and Jerroy Ablan complained about the Rice Thresher granted to them.

Report: The Rice Thresher was procured in 2016 using the Rice Program Fund of the DA with a unit cost of P116,890. This was before the Duterte Presidency

2. ALang ALang, Leyte:

Nilda Briones Mobile Rice Mill 2017 Rice Program fund procured by DA. Unit cost is P782,000.

Report: This was initially operational but the rubber roller deteriorated. Dir. Delos Reyes said the farmers did not report the problem to the DA or did not know where to buy the rubber roller for the rice mill. This is considered a maintenance problem.

3. Bgy. San Roque, Sta. Fe, Leyte:

Complaint: Defective Rice Reaper purchased using the 2017 Yolanda Rehab Fund. Unit cost is P140,000.

Report: This equipment was procured by the Local Government Unit of Sta. Fe as the funds were released to it.

4. Engr. Felipe Edradan, IA President District2, Burauen Leyte:

Complaint: Defective Hand tractor and Floating tillers.

Report: These machineries were procured by the LGUs using YRRP funds transferred to the Local Govt Unit.

So, of the four sets of equipment which were subject of the complaint of farmers, only the Mobile Rice Mill was procured by the DA Region 8.

One was procured in 2016 while the two other sets were procured by the LGUs.