Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol, through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), awarded the first-ever Gawad sa Paglingap sa Magsasaka at Mangingisda Awards (Gawad Lingap Awards) to outstanding Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) partner lending conduits and exemplary small farmer and fisherfolk borrowers last April 26, 2019 at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, Quezon City.
In her welcoming remarks, ACPC Executive Director Jocelyn Alma Badiola credited the success of the PLEA program to the unwavering support, commitment and cooperation of its partner lending conduits and borrowers, and the DA family – the directors and staff of the regional field offices, bureaus and attached agencies.
Exec. Dir. Badiola said that since its launch in Malimono, Surigao del Norte in June 2018, the PLEA has already disbursed about P1.7 billion to 168 lending conduits across the country benefitting 38,000 small farmers and fisherfolk in 291 municipalities in 16 regions nationwide.
She stated that the Gawad Lingap is an opportunity for the ACPC to recognize its partner lending conduits which have shown outstanding performance in the implementation of the program in terms of outreach, collection, utilization and repayment rate, and at the same time honor exemplary borrowers who were able to impressively utilize and pay their loans.
In relation to the event’s theme, “Sharing the Vision, Fulfilling the Mission,” Exec. Dir. Badiola said that the PLEA is a product of DA Sec. Piñol’s vision of implementing “a program that will provide affordable and accessible credit to our farmers and fisherfolk even in the far-flung municipalities of the country.” Exec. Dir. Badiola added that this was made possible through Sec. Piñol’s strategic leadership and guidance.
In his keynote address, Sec. Piñol said that the PLEA is not his “brainchild” but his “heartchild” because the PLEA is very dear to his heart, as he believes access to affordable and timely credit gives farmers and fishers a chance to fulfill their dreams.
Sec. Piñol said that the success of PLEA is very evident by the farmer and fisherfolk awardees themselves and how it has improved their production and livelihood. Sec. Piñol introduced Ms. Wendy Curioso, a farmer from the Dumagat tribe of Dingalan, Aurora, who was able to borrow P50,000 under the PLEA for her ginger, banana, and root crop production.
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