President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the launching of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid (APP) Program on Friday, September 13, at the Our Lady of Sacred Heart Gymnasium in Guimba, Nueva Ecija.
The DA program is aimed at assisting rice farmer members nationwide. Under the initiative, farmers’ activities and income would increase, providing low-cost credit, financial assistance, and a ready market for their harvests.
“For the dry cropping season (2024-2025), it aims to offer credit facilities to 50,000 hectares of rice farmers and cooperatives, starting with established cooperatives under the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (UPRIIS), Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (MARIIS), and NIA systems serving the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR),” the DA explained in a press release.
Under the APP program, the government assures farmers of a decent high income, which also gives the government a stable supply of goods; reducing the volume of imported rice in the country.
During its launch, around 5,000 farmers gathered at the gymnasium in Nueva Ecija to receive the Interventions Monitoring Card (IMC). Farmers can use their IMCs to purchase seeds, fertilizers, and other tools for farming through accredited merchants.
The government allotted a sum of Php32,000 as financial help to the farmers. With that amount, Php8,000 will be distributed every first week of the month for the next four months.
In his speech, President Marcos Jr. mentioned the ‘Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat’ wherein the establishment of Kadiwa Centers and other forms of financial support like TUPAD and the Sustainable Livelihood Program will be offered. Job fairs, including government internship programs, will also be provided.
“Magbibigay din po tayo ng [scholarships] at at saka [toolkits] at magsasagawa ng skills demonstrations sa iba’t ibang panig ng bansa. Mag-aalok din tayo ng mga slot para pwedeng gamitin ng ating mag-aaral, at ‘yung magti-training, magamit nila ‘yan sa TVET,” President Marcos said.
“Layunin namin na maihatid ang lahat ng Pilipino ang lahat ng serbisyo ng pamahalaan na makakatulong upang makapagsimula kayo ng kabuhayan, magkaroon ng edukasyon, at magkaroon ng mabuting kalusugan,” he added.
