Minalabac:Camarines Sur The Department of Agriculture (DA) - Bicol has granted PHP1.5 million in financial assistance to a farmers' and irrigators' cooperative in Camarines Sur. This grant is aimed at expanding the cooperative's agri-food enterprise, while efforts to monitor farming communities in Camarines Norte continue amid the threat posed by El Niño.
According to Philippines News Agency, DA-Bicol spokesperson Lovella Guarin reported that the financial grant, awarded on Tuesday, is part of the 2026 Kadiwa Financial Grant Assistance Program. The San Juan - San Lorenzo Farmers and Irrigators Agriculture Cooperative (SJSLFIAC) of Minalabac, Camarines Sur, is the recipient of this grant, which is expected to benefit around 92 cooperative members.
The KADIWA financial assistance program offers grants ranging from PHP500,000 to PHP5 million to qualified farmers' and fishers' organizations to bolster their livelihoods. Notably, this financial assistance does not require repayment but does mandate beneficiaries to provide a 20-percent equity counterpart based on the total project cost.
Wilfredo Pilapil, chairperson of SJSLFIAC, stated that the cooperative plans to utilize the grant for the project "Minalabac KADIWA Store A Sustainable Agri-Food Enterprise Expansion and Logistic Optimization." The project includes the purchase of a vehicle, freezer, and refrigerator to enhance and expand operations.
Meanwhile, the DA's Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA) Program is actively monitoring villages in Labnig, Paracale, and Alayao, Capalonga, in Camarines Norte. The program supports farmers in adopting climate-resilient agricultural practices to combat the effects of El Niño. Farmers in these areas continue to receive rainfall and are implementing climate adaptation measures introduced through the program.
In Labnig, farmers are preparing for the upcoming corn harvest, employing climate-resilient practices such as diversifying farms, planting stress-tolerant crops like corn, and using plastic mulch. Additionally, they are cultivating various vegetables in their backyards to enhance production and support household food security.
In Alayao, a farmer has planted peanuts and mung beans as alternative crops, alongside cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas, lemongrass, and pineapples, to diversify and sustain production amid changing climate conditions. Through these initiatives, the DA-AMIA Program aims to help farming communities adapt to climate variability, maintain agricultural production, and build resilience to climate-related challenges.
