PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Monday, July 25, 2022, that he will issue an executive order for the imposition of a one-year moratorium on land amortization and interest payment for farmers amid the looming food crisis in the country.
During his first State of the Nation Address (Sona), Marcos, the concurrent secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), highlighted the need for a stronger support to the agriculture sector to achieve the country’s food security in the coming years.
He said the moratorium will unburden the farmers of their dues and be able to focus on improving farm productivity.
“Magbibigay tayo ng pautang, habang mas ilalapit natin sa sektor ng agrikultura ang hindi gaanong mahal na farm inputs na bibilhin na ng bulto ng gobyerno. Kabilang dito ang abono, pestisidyo, mga punla, feeds, fuel subsidy at ayuda para sa mga karapat-dapat na benipisyaryo,” he said.
“Ang mga pautang at financial assistance sa mga magbubukid at mangingisda ay magiging institusyon at patakaran ng aking administrasyon,” he added.
Marcos urged the Congress to pass a measure that will emancipate the agrarian reform beneficiaries from the agrarian reform debt burden, thereby amending Section 26 of Republic Act 6657.
“In this law, the loans of agrarian reform beneficiaries with unpaid amortization and interest shall be condoned. Layunin ng batas na ito ay burahin ang hindi mabayarang utang ng ating mga magsasaka na benipisyaryo ng agrarian reform,” he said.
“Agrarian reform beneficiaries who are still to receive their awarded land under the comprehensive agrarian reform program shall receive it without any obligation to pay any amortization,” he added.
At present, the country has a total of 52,000 hectares of unused agricultural lands, which will now be used for distribution to the landless war veterans, their kin, as well as retirees of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in accordance with Section 40 of the Republic Act 6657, as amended.
Marcos said the DA will come up with a plan on how to increase production of farmers, fishermen and poultry operators.
He said he will prioritize modernization in the agriculture sector through the use of new technologies and science and make their products more accessible by building farm-to-market roads.
“At gagawa tayo ng mga paraan upang maramdaman ng mga mamimili ang pagluluwag ng presyo ng mga produktong pagkain sa kayang halaga, gaya ng muling pagbubuhay ng mga Kadiwa Centers,” he said.
Marcos also noted the need for the infusion of fresh and new blood in the agricultural sector.
“We need a new breed of farmers equipped with modern agricultural technology able to engage in sustained scientific farming that will not only increase farm yields, but also resilience in the face of climate change,” he said. (SunStar Philippines)