The Department of Agriculture (DA) is keen on improving credit facilities to make it more accessible and available for Filipino farmers and fisherfolk.
DA Secretary Manny Piñol, also chairman of the Governing Council of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), last Tuesday discussed with ACPC Executive Director Jocelyn Alma Badiola and the members of the Council ways to improve credit facilities.
“The absence of financing for farmers created a monumental problem in agriculture in the past,” Piñol said. “Time is essential especially for farmers. A two weeks delay in planting means they may not be able to harvest on time especially before the typhoon season.”
The Program for Unified Lending in Agriculture (PUNLA) aims to simplify and consolidate the agricultural lending programs of the government from seven to two or three credit facilities providing a more convenient and less complex lending scheme to farmers and fishers. (Ellalyn de Vera-Ruiz)