Angeles city: The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday announced an acceleration of recovery efforts to support farmers impacted by recent flooding and heavy rains. This initiative is part of the Agricultural Rehabilitation, Emergency Credit, and Operational Viability for Economic Restoration (AGRI-RECOVER) program, which aims to address the financial gap caused by sustained agricultural damage and prepare farmers for upcoming land preparation costs, allowing them to restart promptly instead of experiencing planting delays due to capital shortages.
According to Philippines News Agency, the DA's Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) has undertaken this action as the agriculture and fisheries sector suffered approximately PHP4.38 billion in damages from recent typhoons and the southwest monsoon, affecting 99,000 farmers and fishers nationwide. In a statement, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel emphasized the importance of swift recovery financing to rehabilitate damaged farms, stating, "When farmers can borrow quickly to rehabilitate their farms, they can plant again sooner, recover their income faster and help keep food moving to consumers."
As of Monday, the ACPC has commenced the distribution of PHP1.75 million worth of calamity loans in Angeles City, Pampanga. Under the AGRI-RECOVER program, at least 50 affected farmers have initially received calamity relief loans of PHP35,000 each. The agriculture chief highlighted the initiative as a demonstration of the administration's commitment to food security, particularly as the country is in the wet harvest season, with preparations underway for the next cropping cycle. "Helping farmers recover quickly is also an investment in food security," Tiu Laurel added.
The ACPC plans to extend coverage to 200 farmers in Pampanga, along with conducting program orientation and financial literacy sessions. Additionally, the agency is set to launch the program in Pangasinan on October 16, followed by areas under a state of calamity, contingent on validation, financing demand, and implementation readiness. These areas include Benguet, Bataan, Bulacan, Zambales, Tarlac, Cavite, Rizal, Batangas, and parts of Occidental Mindoro.
