KAILANGANG baguhin ang Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act of 2008 o ang RA10000 para mas maging epektibo sa agricultural sector at higit na maisulong ang rural development, ayon kay Senadora Cynthia Villar.
Base sa datos ng BSP, nagbabayad ang mga bangko ng average na P2 bilyong multa kada taon sa hindi pagtupad sa Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act of 2009.
“The banks have extended a total of PHP713.6 billion in agri-agra credit as of end-December 2020. Agri loans amounting to PHP642.4 billion is only 9 percent of the 15 percent compliance requirement in agricultural credit. While agrarian reform credit extended by banks amounting to PHP71.2 billion, is a mere 1 percent compliance ratio vis-à-vis the 10-percent requirement under the Agri-Agra law,” sabi ni Villar sa kanyang sponsorship speech,
Kabilang sa mga balakid sa hindi pagtupad nito ay ang limitadong uri ng pinapayagang pautang sa agricultural production na may kaugnayan sa mga gawain na hindi lamang para sa mga magsasaka at agrarian reform beneficiaries.
Pinapayagan ng panukalang batas ang mas malawak na pagsunod ng bangko para makamit ang ‘wholistic approach’ sa countryside development.
Tinatanggal nito ang pagkakaiba sa 15 percent sa agriculture at 10 percent sa agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) portfolio ng mga bangko at pagpapalawak sa listahan ng loan beneficiaries at mga gawain na puweedeng pondohan ng bank loans o investments at iba pang alternatibo.
“All banks whether government or private, except newly established banks from the effectivity of the law shall set aside a credit quota of at least 25% of their total loanable funds for agriculture lending,” sabi pa ni Villar.
Para sa mga bagong tayong bangko, may five-year grace period para ma-assess ang multa.
“Loans shall now cover all activities to include complimentary or agriculture and fisheries related activities to increase agricultural production improve the well-being of farmers and fisherfolk,” pahayag pa ni Villar.
“The farming family household members, farm workers, their associations and organizations and their Micro-Small-Medium enterprises can now avail of these loans,” dagdag pa niya.
Kasama rin dito ang environmental projects gaya ng privately- funded at LGU-funded irrigation systems, climate change mitigation, biodiversity protection at renewable energy projects.
Mabibiyayaan din ang rural communities sa pagpapahiram sa construction at upgrading ng infrastructure kasama ang farm-to-market roads at post harvest facilities.
Tutulungan nito para mangutang ang private companies na nasa agri activities at financing.
Kasama rin ang special lending arrangements sa agribusiness enterprises na may qualified agricultural borrowers at agricultural value chain financing (VCF). Kabilang sa VCF hindi lamang ang production kundi pati ang distribution, manufacturing, at processing ng agricultural products. VICKY CERVALES