LBP lends P7B to priority sectors in 2010

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Land Bank of the Philippines has lent a total of P7.01 billion to its priority sectors in Region XI, with the local government sector getting the highest loan portfolio of up to P4,942.05 billion as of the end of October 2010.

LBP XI regional head Vice President Camilo Leyba said the government is the best sector to lend money to, considering that it has a 100 percent repayment rate.

"The payment or amortization for their loans is already included in their yearly budget and is just debited to their accounts," Leyba said.

He admits they have a problem collecting from the small farmers who are most often faced with poor harvest and other problems that prevent them from paying their debts on time.

P15M food terminal opens in Davao City today

The P15 million ALMACEN or alternative marketing center owned and managed by the Josefa Segovia Foundation opened its doors to the public yesterday. ALMACEN is located in Catalunan Pequeño.

JSF is a non-stock, non-profit organization and the social arm of the Teresian Association in the Philippines.

“ALMACEN aims to serve as an alternative marketplace and marketing center for farmers, cooperatives, local government units and people’s organizations in the city,” JSF executive director Chone Evelyn Baldoza said yesterday. Through the center, she added, farmers and other agricultural producers will have a venue to showcase and promote their products.

Baldoza said the center facilities (most of which are already in place) alone is worth P15 million. The 5.5 hectare land on which the structure stands is under a usufruct agreement with the Teresian Association. Under the terms of the usufruct, JSF can occupy the land for 25 years provided the land and the facilities are used for the benefit of farmers.

“We have been working with the upland farmers of the 3rd District for the last 16 years and we saw the need to assist them in marketing their products,” she said. The Foundation also provides transportation support to the upland farmers for easy delivery of their products from farm to market.

ALMACEN will also house the Market Intelligence and Information Center which will monitor the prices of agricultural products in the market. The Center will be operated by ALMACEN in coordination with the Davao City Investment Promotion Center, Davao City Cooperative Development Office and the Department of Agriculture.

It will also house a training center, ten market stalls (solely for farmers cooperatives and associations and people’s organizations) and a restaurant.

Baldoza said they envision the enter to be a one stop shop for all agricultural products produced by farmers so they will be holding night markets which will sell fresh fruits, fish, livestock, seedlings and even flowers. (lovely a. carillo)