The Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) released a total of P153.8 M to 2,034 small farmers and fisherfolks (SFF) and eleven agri-fishery-based enterprised in the Cagayan Valley Region to alleviate the impact of Covid-19.

“We are allocating a total of P2.5 billion for this new DA-ACPC credit program. It aimed at helping micro and small enterprises (MSEs) and small, marginal farmers and fishers adversely affected by the enhanced community quarantine due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said agriculture secretary William D. Dar, who chairs the DA-ACPC Board.

A total of 2, 034 beneficiaries 766 came from Isabela with P 19, 150,000, 368 from Cagayan with P 9,200,000, 100 from Quirino with 2,500,000 and 800 from Nueva Vizcaya with P 20, 000,000, disbursed for small farmers and fisherfolks.

The said loans were released thru the Cooperative Banks of Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya, Mallig FST Multi-Purpose Cooperative  and the Rural Bank of Solano.

On the other hand, the said project allotted P103 M to Agri-fishery-Based Enterprise in the region’s multi-purpose cooperatives (MPC) who received P10 M each: for Mallig FST in Mallig town, Esperanza MPC in Aurora town, Santiago Amos Credit and Development Cooperative in Santiago City, Kabisig Savings and Agri Dev’t Cooperative in Jones, Rotary Community Crops of Cauyan City MPC in Cauayan City, Quirino Isabela MPC in Quirino, the Central Isabela Agri Manufacturing Corporation in Cauaya City, Nara Ragan Valley MPC in Ballesteros, Cagayan, and Kasibu Farmers Development Cooperative in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya. P9 M for Ramcor Farmers MPC in Ramon and Valley High-Value Crops Producers Cooperative of Santiago City received P4 M, respectively.

Under the SURE Covid-19 loan program, eligible farmers and fishers may borrow up to P25, 000, with no collateral, zero interest, and payable in 10 years.

“The SURE Covid-19 loan window is part of the DA’s Plant, Plant, Plant Program, or the Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) Kontra Covid-19 Program aims to increase the country’s food adequacy level,” DA-ACPC Communications and Public Affairs said.

The said loans will improve and ease the burden of farmers and fishers in continuously producing food for the nation amidst the threat of this pandemic.