Kidapawan City roadshow highlights programs for MSMEs, agriculture

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines — Many participants at the provincial enterprise information roadshow this week did not know that the Land Bank of the Philippines has support packages for them.

North Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco said Friday that the event at the provincial capitol in Kidapawan City was meant to boost the local economy.

Close to 2,000 farmers, fisherfolk and entrepreneurs from across North Cotabato and its capital, Kidapawan City, joined the forum facilitated by the office of Catamco, the LBP and other line agencies and support offices of the government.

Catamco said the MSME (micro, small, and medium enterprises) information roadshow at the provincial gymnasium in Barangay Amas, Kidapawan City gave participants a better idea of how the government can help their businesses.

A number of participants from North Cotabato's highland communities told reporters they learned that they can easily get assistance from the government.

"We learned it is not at all difficult. Now we know where to go to get support," 43-year-old farmer Vicente Ontas said in Bisaya.

Fishers from towns along the Liguasan Delta said they appreciated the information shared at the roadshow.

"Besides the support from Land Bank, we know now what agencies can help us have more catch and on how to protect Liguasan Marsh from overfishing," Khalid Sanday, 30, said in Filipino.

The day-long event also highlighted the Accessible Funds for Delivery to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries, or AFFORD-ARBs, a direct lending program for ARBs growing rice, corn and high-value crops.

The loan program can also be earmarked for hand tractors and other farm equipment.

Speakers also lectured on the socialized credit program of the Sugar Regulatory Administration under the Sugarcane Industry Development Act and the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.