Like last year, President Marcos is once again wishing for a better agriculture sector for the country on his 67th birthday.
In an interview after launching a credit facility for farmers in Nueva Ecija, Marcos said he wishes for the program to further expand to other parts of the country in order to help farmers access necessary funds for their agricultural needs.
He was also wishing for sustained coordination between agencies to undertake more programs like the "Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid" Program, which Marcos unveiled in Guimba, Nueva Ecija on his birthday Friday, Sept. 13.
"Maparami ito na talagang lahat ng bawat magsasaka sa Pilipinas maramdaman itong programang ito at lahat ng programa na ginagawa natin sa Department of Agriculture (That this program will further expand so that all farmers in the Philippines can benefit from this and from all the programs of the Department of Agriculture)," Marcos responded when asked what is his birthday wish.
"Lahat ng ginagawa natin sa...pagtulong ng DBP, lahat ng mga financing institution, lahat po iyong buong sistema ng agrikultura, ay, ang birthday wish ko, mabuo na natin para maganda ang takbo ng sektor ng agrikultura para gumanda ang buhay ng bawat magsasaka ng kanilang pamilya at ng bawat Pilipino (My birthday wish is that all programs that we are implementing in cooperation with the Development Bank of the Philippines, all financing institutions, the entire system of agriculture would improve for a better agriculture sector for the benefit of all farmers, their families, and every Filipino)," Marcos added.
In his speech during the unveiling of the "Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid" Program, Marcos hailed farmers, telling them that being with them on his birthday made it more special.
"Kayo ang bumubuhay sa ating bayan. Sa inyo nagmumula ang ating kasaganahan. Sa inyong mga kamay nakasalalay ang seguridad ng pagkain ng ating bansa (You are keeping teh nation alive. Our prosperity comes from you. The food security of our country is in your hands)," he said.
"Nararapat lamang na gunitain natin at kilalanin natin ang inyong kabayanihan at bigyang-pugay ang inyong walang kapantay na kahusayan at kasipagan (It is only right to honor and acknowledge your heroism and hail your unmatched skill and hardwork)," he added.
Low-interest credit facility for farmers
Acknowledging that farmers oftentimes run to financing organizations that offer high interest to help them purchase agricultural needs, the President led the launching of the "Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid" Program.
"Wala nang pangambang maloloko sa presyo. Wala nang alalahanin sa kakulangan ng pondo (You will no longer have to worry about fake prices. You will no longer have to worry about lack of funds)," the President said.
The Chief Executive said that the DA and DBP have secured the initial P3 billion funding to provide a combination of low-interest loans and subsistence allowances for farmers.
According to the DA, the program aims to increase famers' productivity and income by 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).
Gov't shoulders medical bills
As part of his birthday celebration, Marcos announced that the government will be shouldering the medical bills of patients in Level 3 public hospitals in the country.
"Hindi pa po nagtatapos dito. Layunin din po namin na matulungan ang ating mga kababayan na may pangangailangang medikal (This does not end here. We also aim to help our countrymen in their medical needs)," Marcos said.
"Kaya po sa araw na ito, sasagutin po natin ang lahat ng bayarin ng mga pasyente sa lahat ng pampublikong Level 3 hospital sa bansa katulad ng Dr. Paulino Garcia Memorial Hospital dito sa inyo (So today, we are shouldering all bills of patients in all public Level 3 hospitals like the Dr. Paulino Garcia Memorial Hospital here)," Marcos added.
"Kaya’t masarap itong birthday ko. Hindi lang ako maraming regalo, marami rin akong naireregalo. Ito ‘yung blowout (My birthday is good. I am not the only one getting gifts, I am also giving away many gifts. This is my treat to you)," the President further said.
Condoning of agrarian beneficiaries' debts
On his birthday, Marcos also led the first-ever distribution of Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCRoM) to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Central Luzon.
According to Malacañang, a total of 9,832 COCRoMs were distributed, relieving around 6,000 ARBs from paying their loans amounting to P277 million and cover 10,450 hectares of agricultural lands.
To recall, Marcos signed the New Agrarian Emancipation Act (NAEA)in July 2023 which condones all loans, including interests, penalties and surcharges incurred by ARBs from land awarded under Presidential Decree (PD) 27, RA No. 6657 and RA No. 9700.
Around 600,000 farmers are said to benefit from the law, covering more than 1.7 million hectares of agrarian reform lands nationwide.