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Palay farmers in Cagayan receive P12M in aid


November 18, 2019

Agriculture Secretary Dr. William D. Dar (3rd from right), LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo (3rd from left), and Cagayan Gov. Manuel N. Mamba (2nd from right) present a ceremonial LANDBANK SURE Aid Cash Card to farmer Gerry Macapulay of Alcala, Cagayan (4th from left) during the launch of the SURE Aid Program in Cagayan. With them are 3rd District Board Member Rodrigo de Asis (extreme left), Municipal Agriculturist Eusebio Manuel (4th from right), LANDBANK Senior Vice President Filipina B. Monje (extreme right), and LANDBANK Assistant Vice President Victor A. Agorto (2nd from left). (Photo courtesy of DA-Communications Group).\

PEÑABLANCA, Cagayan – More than 800 farmers received a total of P12 million in loan assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) during the launch of the Expanded Survival and Recovery Assistance Program for Rice Farmers (SURE Aid) at the Capitol Gymnasium in this municipality.

Agriculture Secretary Dr. William D. Dar and LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo led the distribution of LANDBANK SURE Aid Cash Cards pre-loaded with the one-time P15,000 loan assistance to 803 qualified farmers from the Municipalities of Piat, Tuao, Amulung, Iguig, Solana, Alcala, Enrile, and Peñablanca. The zero-interest, no collateral loan is payable up to eight years.

They were joined by Cagayan Governor Manuel N. Mamba, DA Region 2 Regional Executive Director Narciso A. Edillo, LANDBANK Northern and Central Luzon Lending Group Head Senior Vice President Filipina B. Monje, and LANDBANK Cagayan Lending Center Head Assistant Vice President Victor A. Agorto.

“The Province of Cagayan holds great potential in agriculture and aquaculture. As the provincial government, led by Gov. Mamba, nurtures this sector, LANDBANK is more than ready to provide the necessary developmental assistance to local industries, especially to small farmers, fishers and entrepreneurs,” President Borromeo said.

A total of P30 million has been allocated under the SURE Aid Program for the estimated 2,000 farmers in the Province of Cagayan who are tilling one hectare and below.

To date, some 41,000 palay farmers from 41 provinces nationwide have benefitted from the SURE Aid Program, with more than P600 million in loan assistance distributed under the Program.

Meanwhile, the DA also distributed various agricultural assistance and projects to the provincial government of Cagayan during the event, which included P321 million in hybrid seeds (P195 million for rice and P126 million for corn), and P187 million in agricultural machineries, irrigation facilities, and infrastructures.


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