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