Binay vows to set up agricultural bank under his admin

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — In this farming municipality dubbed the country’s “Salad Bowl of the Philippines,” Vice President Jejomar Binay vowed to modernize the agriculture sector by building an agricultural bank and scrapping irrigation fees imposed on farmers.

In his campaign rally at the public market here, Binay also vowed to grant land titles to those living in reservation areas if he wins as president.

He said during his Cabinet stint as the administration’s shelter czar, he was able to give land titles to people living at reservation areas in Bantayan island, Cebu.

Binay said he was told by La Trinidad mayor Edna Tabanda of the problems of residents living in reservation areas in obtaining land titles.

Binay said the inalienable lands resided by Benguet residents should be converted to residential areas.

“Walang logic. Okay, it is inalienable at the time. It is a reservation. Pero times have changed. ‘Yung mga lugar na naging residential na, come on, let’s live with realities,” Binay said.

“Ang mga nakita sa reservation, immediately, after I assume office. I’ll make sure to it there’s a conversion of property from from inalienable to alienable,” he added.

Binay also promised to farmers that he would modernize the farming sector by scrapping the irrigation fees and building an agricultural bank.

“Binabalak ko po magtayo ng agricultural bank. Sa ngayon, ang mga nagpapautang na bangko sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda is only 20 percent, because their charter so states na ang ipapautang sa mga agricultural sector is 20 percent lang,” Binay said.

“My suggestion is let’s set up an agricultural bank. Ang trabaho lang nito tumulong para dumami ang kita ng ating mga farmers and fishermen,” he added.

Binay also vowed to scrap the irrigation fee, saying it is only in the Philippines where farmers are forced to pay such fees.

He said he would also improve the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program by assisting farmers beneficiaries under the program with subsistence fees to prevent them from selling their allotted agricultural lands.

Binay attended the Philippine Military Academy graduation rites in the morning. He later held a motorcade in the afternoon around Baguio city and La Trinidad.

Trailing behind his convoy was a truck of Igorots who sounded their gongs.

In his speech at the campaign rally, Binay congratulated the Philippine Military Academy Gabay Laya (Gintong Anak ng Bayan, Alay sa Buhay Para sa Kalayaan) Class of 2016 valedictorian 2Lt. Kristian Daeve Gelacio Abiqui, who is a fellow Ibanag from San Pablo, Isabela.

Binay’s Ibanag roots hail from his mother who was from Cabagan, Isabela.

“Yung mga kalaban ko, sabi, ‘Naku, si Binay, IP (indigenous people).’ Today, dalawa ang mga taga-Isabela, top ten ha– number one and number three. IP yun, Ibanag ‘yun!” Binay said. JE