THE government should spend more to augment school-feeding programs instead of allocating resources for marijuana research, according to Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza.
In a statement, the former three-term mayor of the City of Manila lashed out at the P1.3-billion proposed Marijuana Research and Development (R&D) Fund.
The fund is part of House Bill 3961 or the Act establishing the Philippine Cannabis Development Authority or PhilCADA filed by Deputy Speaker and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr.
“It is a huge waste of taxpayer money that could be put to better use to augment funding for vital social programs, such as the School-Based Feeding Program for half-starved children,” Atienza said.
Under Villafuerte’s proposed bill, P1 billion will be used to establish the Marijuana R&D Fund, and another P300 million will be used for the operations of PhilCADA.
In contrast, Atienza said the Department of Education (DepEd) only spends P16 for every fortified meal freely supplied to underweight children from kindergarten to Grade 6 under the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP).
Atienza said the DepEd is spending P5 billion this year and another P6 billion in 2020 for the SBFP.
“If wealthy nations wish to squander public funds on marijuana research, then that’s up to them. But in our case, we don’t need it, and we certainly can’t afford it,” Atienza said.
“If other countries want to play with fire and develop marijuana for supposed medical or recreational purposes, then let them destroy themselves,” he added.
At present, marijuana is the second most commonly abused illegal drug in the country, after methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, and ahead of MDMA, or Ecstasy.
Currently, under the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, marijuana is tagged as a banned substance, just like shabu, ecstasy, cocaine and heroin.
Under the law, mere possession of at least 500 grams of marijuana, or at least 10 grams of marijuana concentrate (resin or resin oil), is punishable by life in prison plus a fine of up to P10 million.
Carrying lesser quantities of the drug is punishable by 12 to 20 years in prison plus a fine of up to P500,000.