DA releases multi-purpose cash cards to farmers in Surigao City
By Susil Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga Field Operations Division, together with the city government of Surigao, recently distributed the intervention monitoring cards-Europay, MasterCard and Visa (IMC-EMV) to farmers in Surigao City.
Around 400 farmers received the IMC-EMV through the
Rice Farmers' Financial Assistance (RFFA) program under the Registry System for
Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBSA) of the Department of Agriculture.
The IMC-EMV, as a multi-purpose card, will serve as
an identification and a cash card for farmers enrolled in the DA’s system and
will also provide a timely and suitable way for farmers to benefit from the
services of the government.
Hazel Colinares, the DA Caraga and RSBSA regional
focal person, said, “This card with e-wallet capability enables the
farmers to conveniently access government interventions and other financial
benefits under the Rice Tariffication Law.”
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The farmers in Surigao City gathered at the venue to claim their individual cash cards. DA also informed the farmers that the cards already have a P5,000 available balance as cash assistance to help the farmers cope with operating costs due to the low-buying price of palay in the area. Photo courtesy of Surigao City PIO.
“With the IMC-EMV, RSBA-listed farmers can start using the P5,000 current balance in the card under the unconditional cash assistance,” Colinares added.
Farmers can immediately purchase and pay their
needed resources for their livelihood from the stores, as this works like an
automatic teller machine (ATM) card at point-of-sale (POS)-enabled
establishments, fund transfer through the use of the QR code, balance checking
via a mobile app, and availing point discounts at various partner stores, among
others.
Jenelyn R. Malig-on, one of the beneficiaries from
Barangay Bonifacio, is thankful to the government for enjoining the farmers in
this new technology and innovation.
"Dako gyud among kalipay nga dali na kaayo
namo madawat ang tabang gikan sa gobyerno nga dili nami maglinya sa kaigang or
ulan, og mag-pirma-pirma ug daghan nga pormas. Labi na karon nga ubos ang
presyo sa humay, naa dayon sa ATM ang suporta sa gobyerno ug amo nalang ipakita
ang cash card sa tindahan isip bayad. [We are so happy for allowing the farmers
to experience new technology and innovation so we can quickly receive the
assistance from the government, without the long queue while in hot or rainy
weather, and we don’t have to fill out a lot of forms. Especially now that the
price of rice is volatile, government assistance to farmers is already
available in the ATM card and we can present this to a store as payment],”
Malig-on shared.
This initiative is a commitment of the government to foster financial inclusivity among farmers, providing them with a tangible and convenient tool to access vital support and resources for the agricultural sector. (SDR/PIA- Surigao del Norte, with a report from Surigao City PIO)
