The Department of Agriculture- High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), DA-Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) Credit Program Unit and the DA-Agricultural Credit Polic Council (DA-ACPC) jointly conducted an Information Caravan on Agri-Credit Programs for Onion Farmers on September 14, 2023 in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija

The activity is part of the DA’s goal to help empower onion farmers and to increase the awareness and ultimately the availment of onion farmers on the various agri credit programs being offered by the government under the Optimization and Resiliency in the Onion Industry Network (ORION) Program

In a message read by DA Assistant Secretary Rex Estoperez, Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban said “Upang makamit ng ating magsasaka ang masaganang ani, nangangailangan sila ng sapat na puhunan. Ipinag-utos ni Pangulong Marcos sa Kagawaran na paigtingin at palawakin pa ang mga serbisyong pananalapi para sa mga magsasaka.” He added that the ultimate goal is national self-sufficiency, thus, ensuring that our farmers have access to credit and insurance is among the first steps towards achieving this goal.

The onion credit caravan, which was attended by more than 100 farmers, served as a venue for providing up-to-date information on the current agri-credit programs of the DA-ACPC, Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), and insurance under the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).

During the activity, the interested and eligible onion farmers were assisted in the evaluation and processing of their loan applications on site by the financial institutions including DA-ACPC’s Partner Lending Conduits namely: New Rural Bank of San Leonardo, Inc. (NRBSL), ProFarmers Rural Banking Corporation, Kilusang Lima Para sa Lahat Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and the Rizal Public Market Vendors Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative.

For her part, DA-ACPC Executive Director Jocelyn Alma R. Badiola, in a message delivered by DA-ACPC Deputy Executive Director Ma. Cristina G. Lopez said, “We in the DA-ACPC, commits to remain steadfast in fulfilling its goal of providing easy, convenient and affordable credit for small farmers and fisherfolk.”

Deputy Exec. Dir. Lopez added that to contribute to the production of high-quality and affordable onion, the DA-ACPC launched in March 2023 the Credit and Financing Facility for Onion Farmers under the Agri-Negosyo Loan Program with P500 million fund allocation.