Alvin Cabato of ACPC shares the systematic procedure of the Agri-Credit Program of their agency.
DILIMAN, Quezon City - In line with the shift from subsidies to easy access financing of agricultural and fisheries production support programs, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) met with officials of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) for an orientation on the Agri Credit or Easy Financing Access Program.
The activity is part of the efforts of ATI and ACPC in responding to the directive of the Agriculture Secretary as they realign their targets to provide farmers, fishers, cooperative members, and rural-based organizations with financial literacy training programs and assistance.
Alvin Cabato, project evaluation officer from ACPC, led the discussion on the Agri Credit Program of their office. He detailed the step-by-step procedure of how the program works and its significance to the clients.
"It is important for our farmers, fishers, and other potential borrowers to know what is financial literacy and the importance of being financially literate. Once they understand its significance, that is where they buy in to the idea of doing the necessary steps in attaining financial literacy," Cabato shared.
Also included in the activity were the outputs during the 2nd consultation meeting on the AFE Harmonization. This include the suggested curriculum for the Financial Literacy Training and the Framework on the Extension Support to the Agri Credit Program 2018-2019.
ATI Officer-in-Charge Director Luz Taposok noted the importance of a planning activity like this in performing the tasks of both agencies. She mentioned that this process provides focus and emphasis on the real needs of the grassroots level in terms of agricultural growth and development
"We need to coordinate hand-in-hand because we are not working anymore as a single entity now. In collaboration with ACPC and other agencies, we will collect our efforts to serve our people," Taposok explained.
A total of 35 personnel composed of regional center directors, planning officers, division chiefs, and other management staff took part in the orientation. A 10-point agenda was also drafted detailing the next steps that will be undertaken by both offices.
The orientation of the Agri-credit or Easy Financing Access Program was conducted last June 25 in this city.