A MEMORANDUM of Agreement (MOA) "On Collaboration Work in the Service of the Agriculture Industry" between the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) was signed recently during DA's distribution of machineries to farmers at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in this city recently.
Present during the occasion were DA Secretary Dr. William D. Dar, and RBAP President and GRBank Chief Operating Officer Elizabeth Carlos-Timbol. Also present were DA-Central Luzon Regional Director Crispulo G. Bautista, Jr and RBAP Vice President for Luzon Gregory D. De Guzman.
The MOA, which aims to provide support in the development of the country's agriculture industry in favor of the farmers through a partnership with Rural Banks as home-grown institutions, will easily allow farmers to access solutions for their credit needs and support mechanism in the production and marketing of their produce.
This engagement, which involves the wide network of over 450 Rural Banks and their more than 3000 banking units across the country, will ensure effective implementation of the various programs of the DA and its organizations such as that of the Agricultural Credit and Policy Council (ACPC).
Rural Banks shall play a crucial role in this partnership by serving as channels or conduits for DA's extension of credit funds; disbursement of relief and amelioration subsidies; provision of production-related and post-harvest support ; facilitation of marketing activities for agricultural produce and other assistance that may be vital in the entire agriculture sector.
This joint initiative of DA and RBAP will help attain the primary objective of collaboration and working together to empower the country's food producers and uplift their lives to enable them to continue providing food on the table of every Filipino.
The partnership is also the realization of the long-time vision of Dar and Timbol way back when they were both serving for an organization for farmers called Aguila. (Chris Navarro)