By Manny Piñol
Kalibo, Aklan – Two weeks before the scheduled 6-month closure of the favorite tourist destination Boracay, the Department of Agriculture has laid down programs to cushion its adverse effect on Aklan’s agriculture and fisheries.
Yesterday, I flew from Tacloban City to Kalibo to meet with leaders of farmer and groups and engaged them in a dialogue to determine their needs to tide over the 6-month period when tourists who consume most of their produce would be absent.
Initially, the DA through its agency, the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) will release next week the initial loan fund of P39-M under the Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) program which could be accessed by farmers and fisherfolk.
Another loan portfolio intended to support agriculture and fisheries stakeholders, the Survival and Recovery Loan Program ( SURE), will also be granted to accredited farmers and fishermen.
SURE Loans offers P25,000 per family without any collateral and Zero Interest so they could recover from a calamity.
President Rody Duterte, anticipating the adverse impact of the Boracay closure on people’s livelihood and jobs, has placed the island under a State of Calamity.
I also asked Aklan Vice Governor Reynaldo Quimpo and board members Nolly Sodusta, Soviet dela Cruz and Cecille Tirol to conduct a follow through consultation to determine what other interventions could be provided by the DA.
Officials of the DA will be directed to undertake validation of qualified beneficiaries of the DA assistance.
During yesterday’s consultation, farm implements were also distributed to farmers’ associations and cooperatives.
(Photos by Diane Faith Garcia and Mayette Tudlas)
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