In a move to strengthen women’s role in agriculture and enhance food security, the city government of Sto. Tomas, Batangas has launched the Sulong Program, a voucher system designed to support female residents engaged in crop production.

The program—part of the city’s 12-point agenda—aims to boost women’s participation in economic growth by intensifying agricultural productivity, ensuring sustainable food supply, and generating additional family income. It also seeks to enable women farmers to showcase their capabilities in the traditionally male-dominated field of farming, including the cultivation of idle lands.

Sto. Tomas City Mayor Arth Jhun Aguilar Marasigan expressed optimism that the initiative will help women farmers reach their full potential and contribute significantly to local food production.

“As a progressive city like Sto. Tomas where industrialization inevitably prosper, the city guarantees that the socioeconomic shift which may result in rural displacement and increased landlessness for smallholder farmers will not directly affect the agriculture sector,” Mayor Marasigan emphasized.

He added that rapid industrial development brings new employment opportunities not only for city residents but also for migrants from nearby provinces—creating increased demand for food production.

“We want to make sure that healthy and safe food sources will be accessible to all at an affordable price which could only be realized if the government will augment farmers’ inputs to boost production,” the mayor said.

Under the voucher system, qualified local farmers will receive a ₱15,000 coupon for farm inputs, repayable at zero interest. Beneficiaries will return 20 percent (₱1,500) after the first harvest, 20 percent after the second, and 60 percent (₱4,500) after the third harvest.

Beneficiaries are identified through the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBSA), which lists farmers, farmworkers, and fisherfolk eligible for agriculture-related programs. Accredited suppliers—including cooperatives and agri-businesses—have been designated to ensure the availability of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and tools.

To qualify, farmers must be registered under RSBSA, show proof of land ownership or lease for vegetable production, and attend training aligned with the program’s goals.

So far, 64 women farmers have enrolled in the Sulong Program and been endorsed to accredited suppliers. The city is also partnering with institutional buyers to build a stable supply chain and ensure a consistent market for farm produce at fair and reasonable prices.