The Department of Agriculture established the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) in 1986 through Executive Order 113, with the intent of pursuing innovations in rural and agricultural financing.

“[Ginawa ang ACPC] dahil sa mahalaga ang pautang sa pagpapaunalad ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda para sila ay magkaroon ng masaganang ani at mataas na kita. Bilang suporta din sa iba’t-ibang programa ng DA,” DA Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) Director Jocelyn Alma Badiola said during the OneDA sa TV program on Sunday (Mar. 13).

“Kaya kailangan nila ng isang ahensya na maniniguro na magkakaroon ang ating mga farmers and fisherfolks ng sapat na or easy access to afforadable and sustainable rural finance,” Badiola said.

The council has strategies in place to achieve its goal of helping farmers and fisherfolks, some of which are listed below:

First, there is policy research and advocacy.

“We have to make sure that the policy environment is healthy para ma-encourage iyong banking system and other financial institutions [ay] magpapa-utang sa agrikultura,” Badiola said.

The second is funds management.

“We also manage a fund, iyong tinatawag naming Agro-Industry Modernization Credit and Financing fund where in isang pondo ito na gagamitin sa pagpapa-utang ng ating sektor. Lahat ng koleksyon ay napupunta doon.”

According to Badiola, the council has been designing programs or innovative financing schemes that would respond more to the needs of farmers and fishers, and micro and small enterprises.

Badiola added that capacity building is also important to sustain the programs they’ve created.

“Sayang naman iyong pera kapag hindi magagamit ng tama, diba?” she said.

“So, tinuturuan natin ang ating mga small farmers and fishers sa wastong paggamit ng pautang, [at] paggawa ng business plan, and others–pati iyong mindset, iyong attitude,” Badiola added.

SOURCE: https://ptvnews.ph/