“Bongbong” Marcos Jr. led in the launch of the Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid Program (APP), a comprehensive initiative offering financial and technical assistance to eligible rice farmers, in Alabel, Sarangani on Friday.

“As part of the government’s response, we are launching the Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid Program. This is the result of a thorough study, strong cooperation, and a deep concern from various branches of government,” he said.

The APP is a collaborative effort involving the Department of Agriculture (DA), its regional field offices, the National Rice Program, Development Bank of the Philippines, National Irrigation Administration, National Food Authority, Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, Planters Products Inc. and the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC).

Under the program, qualified rice farmers may borrow up to P60,000 at a minimal annual interest rate of two percent. A portion of the loan is insured to mitigate risks from unforeseen events.

“Starting today, you do not need to worry about high interest rates on your loans,” the President assured the farmers.

The farmers can repay their loans through the sale of their produce to the National Food Authority or DA-accredited cooperatives. They will also receive a monthly subsistence allowance of P8,000 for four months.

Broader strategy

Interventions Monitoring Cards will be distributed to allow farmers to purchase seeds, fertilizer and farm tools from DA-accredited merchants.

Approximately 2,000 rice farmers from the provinces of Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, and South Cotabato attended the launch.

In addition to financial aid, the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization awarded P6.5-million worth of farm machinery to three farmer cooperatives.

The Libsur Irrigators Association Inc. received a P1.92-million rice combine harvester; Dajay Riverside Irrigators Association Inc. was given a P2.3-million four-wheel tractor; and Llimito Irrigators Association Inc. received a P2.3-million four-wheel tractor.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. hailed the APP as a game changer for the agricultural sector, saying it could make farming more bankable and profitable.

The DBP provides credit to members of registered farmer cooperatives, while the ACPC offers financing to individual rice farmers.

The President shared that aside from the APP, P3 billion has been earmarked for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, which benefited more than 17,700 farmers and 331 agricultural cooperatives in 2024.