The Department of Agriculture (DA) has implemented a moratorium or the temporary suspension of loan payments of farmers and fishermen under the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC).
According to the DA, the basis for the suspension is the loss of income of farmers and fishermen after not being able to sell their products due to the Enhanced Community Quarantine.
DA Secretary William Dar said that the farmers and fishermen must be given an extension since they are also considered as frontliners continuously supplying food to Filipinos in spite of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
More than 70,000 farmers and fishermen are estimated to benefit from the moratorium which is effective for a year.
Meanwhile, the moratorium will result to a debt of PhP 2.3 billion.
DA Secretary Dar appealed to the Local Government Units (LGUs) to buy the products directly from farmers. He advised that aside from the usual canned goods and processed products that the LGUs provide, they may also
prioritize giving fresh vegetables from the farmers.
In this way, the farmers are guaranteed an income while making nutritious food accessible to the public especially during the COVID-19 crisis.
Report from Cleizl Pardilla
