HOUSE Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III has called for faster, simpler, and more inclusive financial support systems for Filipino farmers, emphasizing reforms in crop insurance and government lending programs to ensure long-term stability in the agriculture sector.
At the joint hearing of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food and the Committee on Ways and Means on Monday, the Speaker said “kasama rin sa mga reporma ang pagpapalawak ng proteksyon at access sa pondo ng ating mga magsasaka. Nais nating gawing obligado ang crop insurance para sa lahat at matiyak na ang Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation ay nakakapagproseso ng claims sa loob ng 10 araw gamit ang digital system.”
The lawmaker from Isabela said that making crop insurance mandatory and fully digitalized would help farmers recover faster from losses due to calamities and market shocks.
Dy also urged government banks to make agricultural loans more accessible by removing red tape and eliminating interest charges.
“Hinihikayat naman natin ang mga bangko ng pamahalaan, tulad ng Land Bank of the Philippines, na gawing walang interes at mas simple ang mga pautang sa agrikultura sa pamamagitan ng pagbawas ng mga dokumento upang mas madali para sa mga benepisyaryo ng agrarian reform na makakuha ng pondo,” he said.
The Speaker stressed that reforms in financing, insurance, and infrastructure must go hand in hand with immediate assistance to farmers, especially amid fluctuating palay prices.
“Kailangang magkaisa tayo para sa ating mga magsasaka. Sa agarang suporta at pangmatagalang reporma, titiyakin nating may kinabukasan ang kanilang kabuhayan at may murang bigas ang bawat Pilipino.”
