The Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Credit Policy Council (DA-ACPC), in collaboration with the DA-Regional Field Office 5 Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), rolled out the first ever Kapital at Ipon Tungo sa Asenso (KITA Mo Na!) Financial Education Training on November 28 and 29, 2023 in Bicol.

The training enabled the 60 farmers and livestock raisers from the region to learn to contribute to achieving long-term objectives through basic personal financial management skills such as saving, budgeting, managing debt, credit discipline, basic financial services, protection from potential scams, and rights and responsibilities of financial consumers.

Further, they were able to create action plans to become more informed financial decision- makers.

“The Kita Mo Na! Training is not just about numbers; it’s about building a financially literate and empowered community,” remarked DA-ACPC Executive Director Jocelyn Alma Badiola.

“When farmers understand the financial tools at their disposal, they can make informed choices that benefit not only their individual farms but the entire region,” she added.

“Natutunan ko yung importansya ng paglalaan ng pondo para sa mga layunin sa buhay,” shared farmer-participant Joan Javier of Camarines Sur. “Dapat nag-iimpok, at nagpapa- seguro hindi lang sa palayan kundi pati sa personal dahil hindi natin alam ang pwedeng mangyari sa hinaharap,” she added.

“Mahalaga pala na talagang mag-invest para sa kabuhayan natin. Dapat din na iwasan ang bisyo para makaiwas sa gastos at mas makaipon,” shared farmer Alfred Berara.

“Huwag tayo basta maniniwala sa mga tumatawag at nagtetext sa cellphone na nanalo tayo ng premyo kasi baka scam pala lalo kung wala naman tayong sinasalihan. Dapat maneguro tayo”, said farmer Elizabeth Rembao.

The KITA Mo Na!, developed by the DA-ACPC, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the BDO Foundation (BDOF), is an interactive training structured around six key messages for farmers and fishers. These include being wise with debt, increasing income through business ventures and additional skills, saving for the future, being insured to be protected, being critical to avoid scams and being nurturing to the environment.

The DA-ACPC and DA-Regional Field Offices will intensify the conduct of the KITA Mo Na! in all regions next year to target ACPC credit program borrowers and members of farmer and fisher organizations.