TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Department of Agriculture (DA) – CAR held the “Rollout of Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid (APP) and Technical Briefing for Sub-borrowers” on January 24 at Laya West, Tabuk City.
According to DA-CAR Regional Technical Director for Operations Danilo Daguio, the program is part of the 8-point agenda from the DA Secretary, which is focused on providing comprehensive support for farmers, particularly those struggling after the impacts of typhoons and other natural disasters.
He said that the program aims to enhance rice productivity and food security and also features low-interest credit with a subsistence allowance.
In addition to reducing debt burden and ensuring income, it promotes modern farming, provides comprehensive support services, and bridges farmers to bigger investments and markets.
The program covers farmers in rice-producing areas, lowland irrigated tilling for 0.5 ha as sub-borrowers.
It is piloted in the Cordillera areas such as Flora, Apayao, Tabuk City, and Rizal, Kalinga.
According to the DA, the total credit is up to sixty thousand pesos per hectare. PHP 28,000 for the agri-puhunan component and PHP 32,000 for the Pantawid component. The amount for the Pantawid shall be released every first week of the month at Php 8,000 per month for four months.
The interest per annum is 2% of the loan amount. 1% for a loan of Php 60,000 or Php 600 of the 6 months. Credit will be disbursed by the DBP through the IMC.
The length of time to repay is 180 days or six months from receipt of the loan.
For the mode of payment, the conduit will deduct the amount of the loan, including the interest, from proceeds of the sale of the sub-borrower’s produce.
The activity is attended by personnel from DA-CAR, DBP, partner agencies, local executives, farmers, and other municipal delegates.
Also present during the event were Laya West Punong Barangay Hilary Sumbad, Provincial Agriculturist Domingo Bakilan, and representatives of Governor James Edduba, Tabuk Mayor Darwin Estrañero, and Rizal Mayor Karl Bugao Baac.
Catherine Camarao, keynote address speaker, also the Senior Vice President and Head of the North and Central Luzon Lending Group, was represented by Jayson Balcita.
The event showed the collaboration between various government agencies, private institutions, and local stakeholders, leading to the valuable support for farmers. By Ian Jefrey Addatu
