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

With the theme “Rural and Agricultural Finance Best Practices: Experiences of the Philippines”, the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) hosted a national dissemination workshop on pilot testing rural finance best practices. The forum was conducted  in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association – Center for Training and Research for Agricultural Banking continue reading : ACPC Hosts Best Practices Forum on Rural and Agricultural Finance

The Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) has released a total of P91.93 million in loans to 8,379 farmers and fisherfolk through to 17 lending conduits under the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Assistance Program since the program started in February 2017 until July 2018. The SURE Assistance Program is a post-disaster facility which provides loan assistance continue reading : ACPC releases P91.93 M calamity loans as of July 2018

Albert Pendijo describes his decision to join the Taculen Farmers’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative as life-changing. “With the benefits I get from the coop, I am now able to provide better for my family,” said the 27-year old farmer who is married and has two kids under four years old. Prior to his membership at the cooperative, continue reading : Farmer Reaps Harvest from Coop Membership, PLEA

Heavy rains and winds brought about by Typhoon Nina wreaked havoc in Bicol just right after Christmas day in 2016. Due to the severity of damage, the local governments of Catanduanes and Camarines Sur declared a state of calamity. Aside from Bicol, tropical cyclone warning signals were also hoisted over numerous provinces in CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, continue reading : Rural Women Rise Over Calamity