Marcos Jr. celebrates 67th b-day with agricultural program launch

MANILA, Philippines —  On his 67th birthday yesterday, President Marcos launched a new program offering low-interest credit and market support to farmers, even as he also relieved around 6,000 of them from paying their loans amounting to P277 million.

Marcos also ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to pay all the expenses incurred by patients in all public tertiary hospitals across the country on his birthday.

The “Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid Program,” initiated by the Department of Agriculture (DA), provides credit to farmers for seeds and other inputs, crop insurance, subsistence allowance until harvest and ensure them a ready market.

“It feels great that it’s my birthday. Not only that I’ve many gifts, I also have many gifts to give. This is my blowout,” the President said partly in Filipino in his speech at the Our Lady of Sacred Heart Gymnasium in Guimba, Nueva Ecija.

Marcos led the ceremonial turnover of the Interventions Monitoring Card (IMC) under the Pantawid program to beneficiaries that can be used to purchase seeds and fertilizers, as well as other tools for farming, through accredited merchants.

“You don’t have to worry about being duped by high interest. No more worries on the lack of funds,” the Chief Executive said.

Under the new program, Marcos said farmers would receive P32,000 – which would be distributed as P8,000 every first week of each month for the next four months.

During harvest season, the National Food Authority will assist by purchasing their harvest in the amount of five tons or 100 sacks of palay at prices not below P21 per kilo, he added.

This will allow farmers to earn P105,000 per hectare, which will be processed through their IMCs, the Chief Executive said.

Marcos concurrently led the DA after assuming the presidency in 2022.

In a chance interview in Guimba, Marcos said he is wishing for the consolidation of the entire agriculture sector to improve the living conditions of Filipino farmers and their families.

“My birthday wish is simple – to have more of these (agricultural programs). Each farmer in the entire Philippines will benefit from this program. And all these programs we’re doing at the Department of Agriculture, all the assistance from the DBP (Development Bank of the Philippines), all financial institutions – all of them, should expand,” Marcos said.

The DA and DBP have secured the initial P3-billion funding to provide a combination of low-interest loans and subsistence allowances for farmers under the Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid Program.

“My birthday wish is that the whole agriculture system will be consolidated and run well so that the lives of each farmer and their families, each Filipino, will be better,” Marcos said.

ARBs

Meanwhile, Marcos also freed around 6,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from paying their loans amounting to P277 million.

Under the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, the government, led by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), distributed 9,832 COCROMs, translating to P276.7 million worth of condoned debts, covering an equivalent land area of 10,445.19 hectares.

“We believe that with these condonations, the lives of our beneficiaries will improve,” Marcos said in a speech in Palayan City.

In Central Luzon, Nueva Ecija has the largest number of ARBs and the biggest number of ARBs benefiting from Republic Act 11953, or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act signed by the President in July last year.

According to DAR, there are a total of 13,241 ARBs in the province that will benefit from the measure.

The New Agrarian Emancipation Act condones all loans, including interests, penalties and surcharges incurred by ARBs from land awarded under Presidential Decree 27, RA 6657 and RA 9700.

Around 600,000 farmers are said to benefit from the law, covering more than 1.7 million hectares of agrarian reform lands nationwide.

Free hospital bills

The President also announced in his speech in Guimba that all bills incurred by patients in all public Level 3 hospitals in the country on his birthday would be shouldered by the government.

This was among the birthday gifts of the President to Filipinos through the “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat para sa Lahat,” a simultaneous nationwide distribution of assistance and provision of government services to 82 provinces in the country launched on Friday.

The DOH is set to release P328 million to 22 tertiary hospitals across the country to cover the medical expenses of these patients.

“We will cover all patients’ fees in all public Level 3 hospitals in the country such as Dr. Paulino Garcia Memorial Hospital here,” Marcos said.

In his speech in Palayan, the President said the one-day free hospital bill would also cover other tertiary hospitals such as the Philippine General Hospital in Manila, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu and Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi.

Free medical services to patients in these hospitals include hospital bill; drugs and medicines; laboratory and diagnostic procedures; dental services; implants; therapy and rehabilitative services; chemotherapy and dialysis.

Marcos also granted the request of Guimba Mayor Jesulito Galapon to repair the Sta. Ana bridge, connecting Barangays Balbalino and Sta. Ana, along with some road repairs.

“Just as we entered we already received a request to repair the bridge here in Sta. Ana… OK, approved,” the President said.

Also part of the celebration was a “Salo-salo sa Kaarawan ni PBBM,” hosted by the Social Secretary’s Office between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the Kalayaan Grounds in Malacañang.

Well-wishers

Speaker Martin Romualdez yesterday extended his birthday greetings to his first cousin, President Marcos, with a wish for his “continued success, excellent health and strength to move the country forward to greater progress.”

“May this year bring even more outstanding achievements and fulfillment,” Romualdez said in a statement.

Romualdez also assured the President that the House stands firmly with him “as we work toward the shared goal of uplifting the lives of our countrymen and securing a brighter future for all.”

The Philippine National Police (PNP) also greeted Marcos on his 67th birthday yesterday with a vow to become a modernized police force in his administration.

The PNP assured Marcos it remains steadfast in its commitment to build and uphold a modern police force for a modern Filipino society. “We stand ready to support your vision, ensuring that our service to the Filipino people remains a source of pride and strength for our nation,” it said in a statement. – Sheila Crisostomo, Emmanuel Tupas, Rhodina Villanueva