Recovery (E-SuRe) aid, a loan program to help farmers affected by the
enhanced community quarantine.
DA-CAR regional director Cameron Odsey said they have released
P52 million to the farmers since April. Out of the said total, P38.7 million was
given to the flower and cut-flower growers in various towns in Benguet
while P14 million was given to vegetable farmers.
Under the E-SuRe aid, around 60,000 farmers are expected to be
provided with assistance. The program provides a 10-year loan at P25,000
for each borrower, without interest and collateral. It only charges a service
fee as the aid passes through a conduit agency or cooperative. It is
available for those engaged in agricultural production like fishery,
livestock, and vegetables.
Odsey said that they are also looking at non-duplication of assistance
or those farmers who have not availed any of the social amelioration
programs of the DSWD, the TUPAD and CAMP of the DOLE and other
agencies.
Also, the DA under the social amelioration program of the national
government has allocated P149,960,000 million that is set to be distributed
to 29,992 identified COVID-19 affected farmers in Cordillera under the Rice
Farmer Financial Assisstance (RFFA) program.
Similarly, under the Rice Resiliency Project (RRP), DA-CAR has total
allocation of P261,960,000 that targets to help 140,000 Cordillera farmers
increase rice sufficiency level by distributing high quality seed and
fertilizers for an estimated 68,047 hectares of rice lands in the region.
Another program is the Urban Agriculture and revitalized Gulayan sa
Barangay, otherwise known as the Backyard Gardening project that so
far assisted 35,631 households. DA-CAR has total budget of P12.09 million
for vegetable seeds, seedlings and saplings for distribution to households.
For food accessibility, DA CAR also have the KADIWA on Wheels that
has already millions of generated sales; the KADIWA Express that assisted
in the linkages of farmers group to LGUs, government institutions and
NGOs; and the KADIWA Retail Store at the DA Regional Office.
For food affordability and price stability, DA-CAR has regular
monitoring through the “Bantay Presyo Monitoring Team” in partnership
with the different local price monitoring councils in the region.
In addition, the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD)
Program of the DA was refocused to support the implementation of the
Bayanihan Republic Act No. 11469 or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act”.
The repriotization of proposed SAAD projects for the year aims to ensure
food security and food sufficiency in the region amidst the pandemic.
43 P a g e
CHR CAR REGIONAL HR SITUATION REPORT – JANUARY to JUNE 2020
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