LAWYER-farmer Antonio B. Partoza, a prominent vegetable grower, was offered a loan of P10-million by an ‘agent’ who said they were looking for farmers desiring to avail themselves of the P10-billion Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (Acef), now being investigated by the Senate on allegations that the huge amount went mostly to the pockets of corrupt individuals.
Acef was then part of the safety nets established by the Macapagal-Arroyo government to cushion the impact of free trade agreements.
However, Partoza, who chairs the Mindanao Fruit Council (Minfruit), politely rejected the offer for two reasons: firstly, he did not need that much money for his agri-business venture and, secondly, the agent was asking for 20-percent “commission.”
Praising the current administration for its anti-corruption campaign, Partoza told reporters covering the Club 888 business and tourism forum at The Marco Polo Davao last Wednesday that he was glad he rejected the offered Acef loan.
“Alam nyo, in-approach din ako nyan dyan sa Acef Fund noon. Bibigyan ka ng loan, walang collateral, walang interes, atsaka ang usapan, ang offer nila hindi sila magbibigay ng loan kung less than 10 million. (You know, I was also approached about that Acef Fund before. You will be given a loan without collateral, without interest, and the deal was that the loan amount should not be less than P10 million),” he said.
Partoza added that he told the agent whom he did not identify that he did not need such a large amount for his farm. “Kailangan ko lang seguro mga 4 to 5 million lang (I needed only some P4 million to P5 million) for enhancement of my farm),” he said.
“Ang sabi niya, he would make the project study for the loan, which service has to be paid by us, but that he also asked for a 20-percent commission,” Partoza said. “Siyempre, hindi ako pumayag (of course I declined the loan offer),” he said.
The farmers of the country are suffering from many problems, affecting their productivity and overall performance, he said, adding that a big part of the challenges to the agricultural sector could have been addressed if only the huge amount budgeted for it was not wasted on big-time corruption like the P728-million fertilizer scam and now this multi-billion Acef mess.
