Farmers are gaining faster access to government-backed financing as the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) rolls out an upgraded digital platform to speed up agricultural loan applications.
The enhanced Agri-Credit e-Portal, or ACE Portal 2.0, streamlines loan processing under the Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid (APP) Program, allowing farmers to submit applications and complete requirements during field onboarding activities.
At a recent orientation in Bayawan City, about 230 farmers applied for loans on the spot with assistance from the Cooperative Bank of Negros Oriental, one of the ACPC’s partner lending conduits.
“This onboarding is a great opportunity because government agencies are reaching out directly to communities to bring programs and services to our farmers,” said ACPC executive director Rallen Verdadero.
About 3,808 farmers have enrolled in the APP program nationwide, as digital platforms continue to evolve as an effective tool for accessing government financial services.
ACE Portal 2.0 streamlines data encoding, verification and processing, reducing paperwork and accelerating approvals that previously required lengthy procedures. It also improves coordination between farmers and partner lenders responsible for releasing the funds.
The platform is linked to the DA’s Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture to quickly verify farmer eligibility. It is also integrated with the Interventions Monitoring Card of Universal Storefront Services Corp., a debit card through which rice farmers receive their loan proceeds.
Under the APP program, rice farmers cultivating 0.7 to 7 hectares may borrow up to P60,000 per hectare as working capital, with free crop insurance and government-backed purchase of harvests.
A house-to-house information campaign is ongoing in Negros Oriental, with additional onboarding scheduled in the municipalities of Tayasan and Ayungon.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said digital tools such as the ACE Portal 2.0 support the government’s push to modernize agriculture and make financial services more accessible to farmers.
