MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agency, the National Agriculture and Fishery Council (NAFC), renewed its ties with the Philippine National Bank (PNB) for the creation of a vehicle loan facility for its extension workers.
The special cehicle loan fund program (SVLFP), which ran successfully for forty years, is a facility that provides agricultural technicians and other farm extension workers involved in agri-fishery development to avail of vehicles so they can easily reach their clienteles living in far-flung areas.
“These transport systems, usually motorcycles, help them reach their clients living in far barrios and provide for them technical advice and support hands-on. They will also be able to perform their duties effectively and efficiently. Thus, we are renewing our partnership with PNB,†said Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala during the recent signing of the agreement with NAFC and PNB officials.
The program is implemented by NAFC through a guarantee fund provided by the 2KR Facility of the Japanese government, the National Economic Development Authority, and other government agencies.
As of December 2012, SVLFP has provided 20,000 motorcycle units to DA extension workers.
Alcala said he sympathizes with the plight of the extension workers who go out of their way to serve the farmers, fishers, and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector.
The signing of the agreement formalizes the collaboration of the DA-NAFC and the PNB and is directed towards enhancing the capabilities of extension workers and employees involved in the country’s agricultural and development activities.