DA starts Marawi agriculture rehabilitation

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) has started rehabilitation for the farm sector in war-stricken Marawi through an initial release of P10 million financial assistance.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the department released the amount over the weekend to registered farmers and fishermen as part of its Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program created early this year.

“Attached agency Agricultural Credit Policy Council released P10 million to a local conduit bank for the initial assistance of P5,000 for each registered farming and fishing household affected by the conflict,” Piñol said.

Around 80 farmers from the first batch received the assistance, while the other beneficiaries are still being validated.

The qualified beneficiaries are based on the listing of the Registry System of Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) handled previously by the Department of Budget and Management.

The RSBSA will be turned over to the DA next year and there will be a revalidation of the listing.

SURE is a two-package loan program where the first component will allow farmers to borrow up to P15,000 to address immediate and emergency requirements, while the second component will allow farmers to borrow up to P20,000 to finance requirements for rehabilitation of livelihood activities.

Both packages will have zero percent interest rates.

Meanwhile, Piñol said the department would proceed with the implementation of the Agricultural and Fisheries Rehabilitation Plan in Marawi City and Lanao del Sur as soon as the conflict ends in the area.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has also pledged support to the Philippine government in the rehabilitation program and will synchronize its efforts with the DA.