Though it hasn’t yet secured the approval of President Rodrigo Duterte for the ₱31 billion supple-mental budget it is asking from the national government, the Department of Agriculture (DA) already knows exactly where to use the fund. On Friday, the DA, through the Agriculture Credit Policy Council (ACPC), said it has approved an initial ₱1-billion loan assistance to marginal farmers and fisher¬folk, as well as agri-fishery micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This is amid the state of national emergency, which was triggered by the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Miraflor, M. B. (2020, April 5). DA to set aside ₱1-B for loan assistance to farmers, fisherfolks. Manila Bulletin, p. B1.