Department of Agriculture (DA) Region IV-CALABARZON, through the DA-Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), released P2.4-million-peso worth of loan assistance for 96 farmers in Brgy. Casile in Cabuyao, Laguna on August 14, 2020.

This intervention is under DA’s Survival and Recovery Taal Calamity Assistance Program (SURE Aid Taal) which aims to support farmers recover their losses after their livelihoods were significantly affected by Taal’s volcanic eruption earlier this year.

The department’s SURE Aid loan assistance gives each marginalized and small farmers and fisherfolk (MSFF) up to P25,000 pesos with zero percent interest payable for 10 years. In order for the farmers to be considered eligible for a loan assistance, the department checks the list of farmers submitted by the municipal agriculture offices. Upon checking, they are then endorsed to ACPC for processing.

For the SURE Aid Taal, MSFFs who were affected by the Taal eruption are eligible for the Department’s loan assistance through ACPC. Also, they should be listed on the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture in order to avail of this loan assistance.

Mr. Edgardo Casalme, one of the farmer-recipients of SURE Aid Taal loan assistance, expressed his utmost gratitude to the regional office’s continued support towards Taal-affected farmers like him. “We will not let this intervention go to waste… We will work harder and be part of the department’s goal of having a food-resilient Philippines”, Mr. Casalme said.

The municipal agriculture office in Cabuyao headed by Miss Min Ednalino also expressed their appreciation towards the regional office, especially to Regional Executive Director Arnel V. de Mesa, High Value Crops Development Program Regional Coordinator Redelliza Gruezo, and Assistant Regional Director for Operation Dennis R. Arpia for their unending intervention for farmers.

With DA-ACPC’s partner-lending conduits, the first batch of loan assistance were given to Brgy. Casile farmers. This will help them bring back their ash-fallen livelihoods and rehabilitate the agriculture industry in Cabuyao. • (MAP, DA-RAFIS)