Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol led the launching of the Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) – National Food Authority (NFA) scheme loan facility last January 28, 2019, in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat.

As the Department of Agriculture (DA) sets its sight on intensifying the implementation of its agri-fishery credit programs for 2019, various DA – Regional Field Offices (RFO) together with the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) have already started establishing their Loan Facilitation Teams (LoFTs) at the regional and provincial levels.

“Wala kaming nagawa kundi mag-bakwit (evacuate),” said farmer Jamalia Abdulmalic when asked about her experience during the war between the military and Maute terrorist group in Marawi City. “Lahat ng ari-arian namin, mga tanim at mga alagang hayop, nawala.” Thus, the financial support from the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Credit Policy Council (DA-ACPC), through continue reading : Woman farmer-leader believes Marawi will rise again

Marawi local Yassin Yusoph initiated the creation of the Bago Amasa Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Cooperative, a group of small farmers and fishers heavily affected by the Battle of Marawi in May to October of 2017. “Kaysa matulog lang tayo at kumain, bakit di tayo magtipon-tipon, magtanim at tulungan ang mga sarili natin,” Yusoph recalled continue reading : Young cooperative leader finds hope in the aftermath of Marawi-siege

In order to reach unbanked, underbanked, and underserved rural areas, the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Credit Policy Council (DA-ACPC), the country’s principal agri-fishery finance institution, partners with farmer and fisher cooperatives, rural banks, cooperative banks, associations, and non-government organizations, accrediting them as lending conduits to disburse loan funds under the Production Loan Easy Access continue reading : PLEA’s First Lending Conduit Continues to Empower Farmers and Fishers through Easy Access Credit

Department of Agriculture Secretary (DA) Emmanuel F. Piñol and Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) Executive Director Jocelyn Alma R. Badiola led the distribution of financial assistance to around 1,000 conflict-affected small farmers and fishers on November 27, 2018 in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. The provision of financial support is under the ACPC’s Survival and continue reading : DA-ACPC gives financial assistance to 1,000 conflict-affected farmers and fishers in Marawi City

In response to the issue on high prices of seafood in Bohol, the Department of Agriculture (DA) launched the Bohol Fish Market and TienDA in Tagbilaran City, Bohol on August 16, 2018. The project, which shall be replicated in other areas, aims to establish provincial “fish hubs” where fish products from other areas will be continue reading : DA Launches Bohol Fish Market and Tienda in Tagbilaran

LEGAZPI CITY—Farmer Lorna L. Solinad, 41, from Balasbas, Manito, Albay would resort to a “para sabala” everytime she needs more money to support her rice production. A “para sabala” is someone that pays in advance the harvest of farmers but with an almost 90% interest. This is an informal lending scheme resorted to by farmers. continue reading : Albay farmers see PLEA a big relief

Through the ACPC’s Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan, small farmers and fisherfolk affected by disasters (from areas declared under state of calamity) may avail themselves of financing assistance of up to P25,000 per borrower at 0% interest rate. Repayment is based on capacity to pay up to three years. Loan purpose must be to finance continue reading : ACPC’s Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan

A year after its launching in June 2017, the Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) credit facility boasts of a 98 percent repayment rate from marginal and small farmers and fisher borrowers in 16 regions covering forty-one (41) provinces. Based on the data gathered by the Agricultural Credit Policy Council’s (ACPC) Monitoring and Evaluation Staff, as continue reading : DA-ACPC’s Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) registers a high 98% repayment rate