MANILA, Philippines – Para isulong ang paglago ng ekonomiya ng bansa, tiniyak ni Sen. Cynthia Villar na ang kanyang mga panukalang batas ay may probisyon na sumusuporta sa pagsasanay, edukasyon, mechanization, research at development ng publiko.
Patunay ng senadora ang pagsasabatas ng Republic Act 10848 o ang pagpapalawig ng pagpapatupad ng Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF).
“ACEF can provide a level field in access to not only education and training, but in opportunities to modernize and mechanize existing facilities or operations,” ani Villar.
“Under the ACEF Law, 80 percent of the fund would be set aside as a loan to micro and small entrepreneurs with minimal interest to make them more competitive—P5 million maximum for cooperatives and associations, and Php1 million for individuals,” dagdag niya.
Layunin ng pautang ang magkaroon ng agri-based production at post-production machineries, equipment at makinarya upang makamtan ang modernong agricultural practices, kabilang ang mechanized operation.
Nitong nakaraan buwan, sinabi ni Villar na inihain rin niya ang Senate resolution na magtitiyak sa maayos na pagpapatupad ng iba’t-ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaan ng ACEF upang isulong ang competitiveness ng ating magsasaka at mangingisda sa pagdating ng ASEAN integration.
“It has come to our attention that two years after we have passed the ACEF Law, the program is still frozen, unused and unavailed by the sector that needs to be assisted to become globally competitive. So, we conducted a Senate inquiry to find out why.”