The country’s finance chief has called on rural banks to play a proactive role in transforming Philippine agriculture into a modern, high-growth sector that will help provide the economy with a strong base to launch a quick recovery from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Finance (DOF) said in a statement yesterday.
Carlos Dominguez, DOF secretary, said a robust rural banking system is necessary to provide financing support to investments in farm and logistical systems and other initiatives that will modernize Philippine agriculture.
Fast-tracking the modernization of the agriculture sector will enhance the food and nutrition security of Filipinos, boost rural incomes and help power the recovery of the economy from the coronavirus crisis, Dominguez said.
“We need to invest in our farm and logistical systems as quickly as possible. Demand for food is inelastic. By building a modern agriculture, we can expand market access for food producers while keeping food supply available and prices affordable,” Dominguez said in his pre-recorded video message at the virtual symposium organized by the Rural Bankers’ Association of the Philippines to mark its 63rd charter anniversary.
“All these will require financing support that our rural bankers are best poised to deliver. I ask our rural bankers to play a proactive role in this area,” he added.
Having overseen the rehabilitation of rural banks in the past, Dominguez said he is certain that the rural banking sector “is capable of remarkable turnarounds.”
Dominguez, who had served as agriculture secretary during the administration of the late President Corazon Aquino, commended rural banks for performing their tasks in keeping the agriculture sector afloat during the coronavirus-induced crisis.
He said programs have been set in place under the Bayanihan To Recover As One Act to encourage investments in the agriculture sector and expand the capacity of rural banks to extend credit to more borrowers.
These include increasing the capital of government financial institutions to enable them to serve as wholesale banks and rediscounting agents for small and medium-sized banks and microfinance institutions, which rural banks can tap to increase their lending capacity.
Dominguez said President Duterte has also certified the proposed Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer Act as an urgent measure to allow banks to dispose of non-performing loans and assets through asset management companies so that they can provide more credit to more sectors in need.
“With a robust rural banking system, we can transform Philippine agriculture into a dynamic, high-growth sector. Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient and inclusive national economy,” Dominguez said. (A. Celis)
