CEBUANO FARMERS and fisherfolks get another opportunity to bring their livelihoods to the markets and even expand their businesses further now that the Capitol’s Enhanced Countryside Development (ECD) Program will finally roll out in the entire province.
The Cebu provincial government signed a memorandum of agreement with three government banks in Pinamungajan town for the program’s implementation. Through the ECD, farmers and fisherfolks will be provided with funds for their needed capital to restart or improve their businesses, according to Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.
She said the funds will be given through a loan program with reasonable interest rates and payback terms from the Landbank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines and Philippine Veterans Bank.
Businesses include farming corn, cassava, and other crops; raising native pigs, mud crabs, bangus, and others; as well as food processing and manufacturing like squash noodles, banana chips, cassava chips, among others.
Garcia said the provincial government will also help connect the farmers and fisherfolks to companies that will buy their products and harvests at an assured price. It will ensure the “right price for the farmers and the right volume for the buyers” giving all the proceeds to the farmers, fisherfolks, and other micro, small and medium agri-entrepreneurs.
Food sufficiency
Garcia said the ECD program aims to reinvigorate the economic activities in the countryside, particularly in the agribusiness sector. “This way, Cebuanos can work in their respective localities and would no longer need to go to the urban areas,” she said.
The ECD expands the Sugbusog and Sugbo Negosyo programs and the revival of Cebu’s tourism industry last year to bring back the economy crushed by the Covid-19 pandemic. It also targets to ramp up food production in the Province to ensure food security and sufficiency for the Cebuanos.
Garcia said the pandemic highlighted the reality that food production in the province is not enough. “Panahon sa pandemya dinha nako nakit-an nga pagka-insufficient sa atong food supply, nagpailog sa bugas, naglisod pa’g pangita sa bugas mais,” she said.
She said that over 15 livestock feed mills need about 500,000 metric tons of corn but the province’s corn farmers at present can only supply one percent of it. This resulted in importation of corn from other areas such as Mindanao.
Garcia noted that Cebu has more than 3,000 hectares of idle lands that can be utilized to increase corn production and lessen the importation and revealed that big companies like San Miguel Corporation have expressed desire to buy cassava products, raw or processed, from the province.
Commitments
To encourage farmers to grow crops in their lands, Garcia said the provincial government will provide infrastructure projects such as farm-to-market roads and P32-million post-harvest facilities in strategic areas in the whole of Cebu.
It will also secure crop insurance to all ECD participating farmers with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, as well as technical and marketing support, among others.
The three banks, on the other hand, committed an initial P20 billion agricultural funds for the program. The bank representatives said more funds can be extended, if needed.
“Mu-commit mi bisan pila ka bilyon basta ang mga kinahanglan nga requirements naa, qualified sa program, ug bayran ang utang. We are very willing to help you financially and technically,” said Philippine Veterans Bank Vice President Ofelia Oliva.
The Development Bank of the Philippines will also cater to infrastructure projects, while LandBank for agricultural projects, and Philippine Veterans Bank for MSMEs.
Provincial Agriculturist Roldan Saragena said they will meet with representatives from the lender banks to finalize the guidelines for the implementation of the program. They will also meet with city and municipal agriculture officers to identify and prioritize the farmers and fisherfolks’ organizations that are interested to join the program. “As long as interesado ang farmers, og unsa ilang ganahan i-venture nga livelihood, atong i-assist. Magbuhat man ta ug screening committee ani,” Saragena said.
“Ang farmers and fisherfolks, ilang isubmit ilang application or letter of intent sa city or municipal agriculture office unya isubmit sa Provincial Agriculture Office aron atong ma-screen o review iyang feasibility. Then, ato na i-submit sa lender banks,” he added.
Saragena revealed that the agri-MSMEs’ initial response to ECD has been positive as they trooped to the bank representatives present in the event to inquire about the documentary requirements.
Cebu moving forward
Garcia enjoined all town and city mayors, and the provincial board members, and national government agencies to continue the collaborative work they have started with Sugbusog and Sugbo Negosyo in implementing the ECD program. “We will need all of you. All hands on deck. All Cebuanos rising up as one niining hiniusa ug nagkahiusang Sugbo,” she said.
“With a sense of purpose, with a sense of continuity, and as always, with a sense of leadership at this time, Cebu must take the lead for the country, for the Philippines,” Garcia added, emphasizing that “Cebu is moving on and moving forward.” (Lianne Llesol)
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