Press Release
January 22, 2014

Grace Poe asks DA to submit list of NGOs earlier accredited to receive PDAF

Sen. Grace Poe has asked Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala to submit to the Senate a list of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) earlier accredited by the department to receive Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

The senator made the call at the Senate committee on agriculture and food hearing presided by chair Sen. Cynthia Villar.

Poe said, "I wish to ask for the list of NGOs earlier accredited by the Department of Agriculture to receive PDAF."

The senator cited the editorial of the Philippine Daily Inquirer dated September 29, 2013, which mentioned the alleged "classified" nature of the document.

The editorial stated, "The public has the right to know how taxpayer money is spent. Asking for a copy of the list of DA-accredited NGOs is an exercise--and surely a basic, nonthreatening exercise--of that right. Since the purpose of the existence of the list is government accreditation, a public process in itself, sharing the information should be merely ministerial."

At the hearing, Poe emphasized the need to address rice smuggling to protect the interests and welfare of Filipino farmers.

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