The Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Credit Policy Council (DA-ACPC) expressed its commitment to support the DA’s Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid Program (APP) during its first rollout to farmer-beneficiaries in Guimba, Nueva Ecija on November 25, 2024.
“We pledge to perform our role in the Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid Program to help ensure that the hard work of our farmers will translate to their prosperity. Kasama ninyo kami sa bawat hakbang,” DA-ACPC Director Norman William Kraft said.
“…nakikita namin sa ACPC na malaki ang maiaambag ng Agri-Puhunan sa pagpalalawig at pag-sustain, di lang ng credit access, pero pati na rin ng insurance para sa ating mga magsasaka,” he added
DA Undersecretary for Policy, Planning, and Regulations Atty. Asis Perez also joined the event. He highlighted the impact of the APP to farmers’ access to credit, “Dati-rati, magsasaka ang bumibiyahe sa mga bangko o himpilan ng gobyerno para umutang. Ngayon, sa tulong ng mga partners natin, diretso na sainyo [farmers]… Di na pipila nang mahaba para mag fill out ng maraming dokumento.”
Mr. Rustico Noli Cruz, head of the Program Development and Management Group of the Development Bank of the Philippines, and Ms. Maria Zenaida Angping, President and CEO of Planters Products, Inc. (PPI) also pledged their commitment as the DA’s implementing partners of the APP. They are joined by Engr. Jeoffrey Paraton of the National Food Authority Region 3, Engr. Gertrudes A. Viado of the National Irrigation Administration – Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems, Ms. Gerlie Gregorio of the Philippine Crop Insurance Regional Field Office 3A, and Mr. Dante Lazatin of the NACATAMAACO Irrigators Agriculture Cooperative.
The APP aims to help farmers address significant challenges related to financing access, high input costs, and market instability. Each farmer-beneficiary is provided with a low-cost credit line that they can use to buy inputs, services, tools, and machinery at PPI-accredited merchants, as well as monthly financial assistance to aid in their other needs while waiting for their harvest. The program also ensures a ready market for their products, helping to maximize their yield.
“The APP program essentially represents contract farming, which will guarantee a decent higher income for our farmers and provide the government with a stable supply of our staple food. It could also help reduce the volume of rice we import,” said DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel during the APP launch on September 13, 2024.
Comparing the APP to seeking ‘easy’ credit from private individuals with high interest rates, Ruby Paraguisan of Muñoz City shared “Magandang bagay ito, malaking tulong, kasi galing na sa government [ang kapital] at mas madali na ang proseso.”
“Malaking tulong ito sa mga farmers kasi mabibigyan na ang mga farmers ng pondo simula pa lang sa land preparation na may murang interes.… hindi na nila kailangan humanap ng ibang pagkakautangan para magsimula. Maalis na rin ang risk ng pagpapautang sa aming mga merchant,” added Juvylinda Lee, Manager of Greenfields Agri Supply from Cuyapo.
