FILIPINO farmers will be able to enjoy more benefits with the new version of the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF), which was revised in 2016, an official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
“Katung ACEF sa una kay lahi ra sa karun, kay sa bag-ong ACEF karun mas dungagan na ang pwede matabang nato para sa mag-uuma (The former ACEF is different from the current one, in the new ACEF, we can help the farmers more),” DA undersecretary Evelyn Laviña said during the 17th National Vegetable on Friday, August 24, 2018 at the Davao Convention Center.
From the four percent per annum loan interest rate, Laviña said with the revision of the ACEF, there’s only two percent interest rate when they loan with the Land Bank of the Philippines.
“Ang kinahanglan lang buhaton kay muadto lang sa Landbank para mafill out tung form nga gibuhat sa Landbank para sa mga mag-uuma (What the farmers only need to do is fill out a form from the Land Bank),” Laviña said.
Also, under the new version of the ACEF, educational scholarships can be enjoyed by the children of the farmers.
“That includes free tuition in order to secure the education of farmer’s children and their future,” Laviña added.
ACEF will be offered in state colleges and universities which have course offering on agriculture, fishery, and forestry. ACEF will also shoulder the scholar’s school expenses including the tuition and miscellaneous fee (excluding books), monthly stipend of P1000, and a thesis writing allowance worth P5,000.
She added this reform in the ACEF was aided with the help and consistent appeal of Senator Cynthia Villar.
“Kailangan siguraduhin rin ang kalagayan ng ating mga magsasaka dahil sila ang bumubuo at sumisiguro ng ating food supply (We need to ensure the current state of our farmers because they form and secure our food supply),” Villar said during the vegetable conference.
Meanwhile, Laviña clarified during the event regarding the issue on the collection of P100,000 for a project proposal on ACEF.
“And that is not true, because as part of the committee on ACEF no one has drafted any proposals on that,” Laviña said. (GAD)