KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato Province (PIA) -- A total of 97 agrarian reform beneficiaries in the province have availed of the credit assistance loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines through the Accessible Funds for Delivery to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (AFFORD-ARBs) program.

Of the 97 ARBs, Daquio said, 39 are from Arakan, 17 from President Roxas, 12 each from Carmen and Alamada, 10 from Magpet, three from Pikit, and one each from Makilala, Matalam, Kabacan, and Pigcawayan.

Charish Paña, provincial agrarian reform program officer II said the loan amount, some were already released, aims to assist ARBs with their respective production of banana, rice, corn, mango, and pomelo.  

She added, that the program is an enhanced lending program offered to individual ARBs not just to fund the production of rice, corn, and high-value crops, but also the acquisition of small farm equipment.

“We are very happy that more and more ARBs have already availed of the AFFORD-ARBs program that offers a lower interest rate of 5% per annum.

“We are hopeful that these ARBs will enhance their production and increase their yield and income with the availability of funds for the timely procurement of their agricultural inputs and other logistics,” Paña said.

She said that DAR will continue to provide these ARBs with support services such as technical assistance on their chosen commodities, coaching and mentoring, and other capacity development interventions.

Meanwhile, Roland Daquio, provincial AFFORD-ARBs program point-person, said these ARBs were provided with financial literacy seminars before the release of their loans.

The AFFORD-ARBs program is in compliance with Presidential Directive No. 2018-0176 dated April 14, 2018, which directs LBP, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and DAR, to reach out to farmers and provide them with financial assistance for their agricultural needs. (With reports from DAR-Cotabato)