By Manny Piñol
Rice and vegetable farmers in communities around Laguna Lake will now have access to a P100-M credit and are now assured of priority in the implementation of the Solar-Powered Irrigation System Project and machinery distribution through the Department of Agriculture (DA).
“Ang tagal naming nag-antay na mapansin kami ng rating pamahalaan,” said a 64-year-old vegetable farmer from Lumban, Laguna yesterday who along with his fellow farmers in a 100-hectare farming area beside the Lumban River had asked for irrigation facilities for a lifetime.
Assured of a unit of SPIS which would draw water from Lumban River to irrigate their vegetable farms, the farmers clambered up the stage to thank government for the still to be delivered support.
“Ngayon lang kami nakaramdam ng ganitong pagkalinga mula sa pamahalaan at nagpapasalamat kami kay Pangulong Duterte,” an elderly farmer said.
It was a touching and emotional moment for me realising that in an area which is just about 30 minutes away by helicopter from the seat of power, farmers have waited for decades for government interventions.
DA Regional Director Arnel de Mesa said the repayment rate of farmers in the area to the initial P45-M loan facility granted by the Agricultural Credit Policy Council of the DA through the Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) Program is 98%.
This prompted me to respond to this heartwarming news by announcing that since the repayment rate was very high, the loan portfolio for farmers of Laguna and Rizal living in communities around the Lake will be increased to P100-M.
I also directed Director De Mesa to prioritise the farmers of the area in the establishment of Solar Powered irrigation Systems and the distribution of farm machineries like tractors and rice harvesters.
The additional loan amount will be available immediately while the SPIS will be constructed this year and the farm machinery and equipment will be delivered starting next month.
(Photos taken by Gian Carlo Luague and Lito Degorio of DA-AFID)
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