CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Village communities, especially farmers, have all the reason to be happy following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Aquino administration and the Italian government on a P2.6-billion package consisting of soft loans and grants in an effort to back up the government’s poverty alleviation program in the countryside. The two governments signed the MoU at the Oro Christian Grace School Auditorium here on Wednesday.
The signing of the MoU was witnessed by President Aquino, Italian Ambassador Luca Fomari and Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes.
The MoU focused on the Assistance to Agrarian Reform Community Development Support Project (ARCDSP).
The P2.6-billion soft loans and grants consist of the 26,190,016 euros from the Italy and an amount equivalent to 14,438,000 euros from the Philippine government as counter contribution.
The objective of the project is to uplift the living condition and to maintain a sustainable income for people residing in Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) especially those in far-flung areas.
The signing of the MoU was also witnessed by Vice President Jejomar Binay, DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano Soliman, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jess Robredo, Department of Health Assistant Secretary Nemesio Gaco, Gov. Oscar Moreno and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez.
In a related poverty-alleviation program, Aquino personally distributed on Wednesday several social services projects to beneficiaries in Northern Mindanao, also at Oro Christian Grace School here.
Along with Secretary Soliman and other Cabinet officials, the President led the awarding of grants such as the Community Mortgage, Slum Upgrading, Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K), Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps, Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, PhilHealth cards, and Certificate of Land Ownership.
Mike Crismundo, Manila Bulletin
