The Department of Agriculture (DA) has approved an initial P246.3 million in loans for small farmers and fishermen, and agri-fishery micro and small enterprises (MSEs), under its Expanded Survival and Recovery Assistance or SURE Aid Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) financing program. Through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), the DA is alloting a total of P2.5 billion for the new credit program as part of its Plant, Plant, Plant Program, or the Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (Alpas) Kontra Covid-19 Program, which aims to raise the country’s food adequacy level. “This is our way of helping agri-fishery MSEs, and small farmers and [fishermen], recover from their losses, as they play a crucial role in ensuring the availability of food supply in Metro Manila and other urban centers,” said Agriculture Secretary William Dar, who leads the ACPC board.

Gomez, E. J. (2020, April 23). DA okays P246-M loans for small farmers, fishermen. The Manila Times, p. B2.