Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Senator Manuel Villar, Jr. and his running mate Sen. Loren Legarda urged Malacañang Friday to prioritize aid to farmers severely hit by the drought caused by El Niño.

Villar said the Palace should ensure transparency in releasing funds that would help abet farmers’ woes as damages to farms caused by the drought has increased by P8 billion.

He said the situation, which the Department of Agriculture (DA) has confirmed, is alarming as the agency continues to receive reports of more damage to farms from various provinces.

“Summer has just set in and we’re in to experience long, dry months. And yet the amount of reported losses is already staggering. The government must act swiftly to mitigate the impact of El Niño and help our farmers cope with the situation,” Villar said.

Villar said he is more concerned over the possibility that the crisis might be used for electioneering purposes, resulting in financial aid being diverted to projects for political gain.

“I urge the government to publish budget releases and schedule of spending related to addressing El Niño. It should specify the amount, the implementing agency, and the purpose of the allocation. It should contain the project location and target beneficiaries,” said Villar.

“What worries me is the possibility of using this crisis as a convenient excuse to raise funds for political ends. Publication of physical targets for infrastructure projects (and quantity for goods) would inform the public if the government is indeed spending to mitigate the drought and aid the victims as it promised to,” he added.

“By this, the public is ensured that the money is spent by the right agency at the right time, for the right project and target recipients,” he further said.

The government, he said, can make use of major broadsheets and other media in informing the public of its expenditures.

“If they can bombard the major dailies with supposed government achievements, I don’t see any problem why they can’t now. The publication should serve as public receipt of expenses and a guide that will inform people what to expect. It is an antidote to any plan to use El Niño funds for political ends,” Villar suggested.

For her part Legarda said government should address the urgent need to repair irrigation and water impounding systems.

She said the government must also ensure farmers and their farmlands would survive the drought with enough emergency funds through a cash transfer program.

Legarda pointed out that farmers should be entitled to free rationing of rice from the National Food Administration (NFA) so that they themselves would not die of hunger.

The government should also extend technical assistance to farmers by providing them other seeds they can plant that can withstand drought.

“It is critical now that we give extension support to our farmers, and provide them with technical and financial assistance. For instance, we should start teaching them to plant drought-resistant crops,” Legarda said.

Legarda also pointed out her amendments to the Agri-Agra Law has already been signed by President Arroyo into law four days ago which would allow banks to offer more loans to farmers.

The law prohibits banks from using the purchase of government bonds as compliance, mandating them to extend cash loans to farmers who need funds to recover from drought.