MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has shared his birthday wish, emphasizing the importance of a thriving agricultural sector in the Philippines to support the nation’s farmers.
“Let’s hope for improved agriculture and a better understanding of our weather – is it the wet season or the dry season? So that we can assist our farmers better,” President Marcos remarked on his 66th birthday, celebrated on Thursday, September 13.
President Marcos made this statement during an event attended by Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) employees and guests, which coincided with the presentation of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act (Republic Act No. 11953) and the signing of an Executive Order extending the moratorium on agrarian debt.
In his dual role as chief executive and secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), President Marcos underlined that his recurring birthday wish has always centered on safeguarding the well-being of Filipino farmers and ensuring the protection of their crops and bountiful harvests.
During the DAR’s presentation of the IRR for RA 11953, the President announced the signing of “Executive Order (EO) for the two-year extension of EO No. 4, s. 2023.”
Previously, President Marcos signed an executive order for the two-year extension of the moratorium on amortization payments by farmer-beneficiaries concerning agrarian debt.
The extension, encompassing principal obligations and interest payments on amortization, aims to provide continued economic relief for agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) who have been affected by the pandemic, climate change, and global crises like the ongoing situation in Ukraine.
Notably, EO 4, set to expire on September 13, originally imposed a one-year moratorium on principal and interest payments by agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from the date of its effectivity. This extension includes ARBs who were not covered by the New Emancipation Law, which came into effect in July.
President Marcos called for broad support and participation in the implementation of NAEA, emphasizing the necessity of a whole-of-nation approach to achieve its objectives and ensure future food production.
Furthermore, he urged the DAR and other relevant agencies to expedite the implementation of the IRR, liberating beneficiaries from debt burdens and allowing them to reap the benefits of their cultivated lands. (Presidential Communications Office)
