In order to provide assistance, financial and otherwise, to cooperatives and other groups and individuals adversely affected by the Enhanced Community Quarantine brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, the following programs/projects were launched by various government agencies and financial institutions:

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (DA)

Ahon Lahat, Pagkain Sapat Kontra Sa COVID-19 or ALPAS COVID-19

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has requested for a P31 billion supplemental fund for the expeditious implementation of the Ahon Lahat, Pagkain Sapat Kontra sa COVID-19 or ALPAS COVID-19, on top of the department’s existing programs. The purpose is to roll out immediate intervention for food production and availability, food accessibility, affordability and price stabilization.

The said budget will be used for the following programs/projects to immediately mobilize support to farmers and other players in the food value chain:

AMOUNT OF BUDGET	PROGRAMS/PROJECTS
7 Billion	procurement fund of the NFA to buy palay from local farmers
1 Billion	upscaling of KADIWA ni Ani at Kita
7.5 Billion	Rice Resiliency Project
1 Billion	Integrated Livestock and Corn Resiliency Project
1 Billion	Expanded Small Ruminants and Poultry Project
300Million	Corn Food Project
1 Billion	Coconut-base Diversification Project
500M	Urban Agriculture Project
1 Billion	Revitalized Gulayan Project
3 Billion	Social amelioration to farmers ,fishers and farm workers

For further details, kindly visit www.da.gov.ph, www.facebook.com/dacentralphilippines  or email at [email protected]

• DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY (DTI)

• Enterprise Rehabilitation Financing facility under the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (Covid19 P3-ERF)

The Small Business Corporation under the guidance of the Department of Trade and Industry has set up a P1.0 billion Enterprise Rehabilitation Financing facility under the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (Covid19 P3-ERF) to support micro and small businesses affected by the economic impact of Covid19 in the country. The microfinancing program of the SB Corporation, which usually offers loans ranging from PhP5,000 – PhP200,000 with a minimal interest rate of not more than 2.5% per month with no collateral requirement, will extend its service to small enterprises.

Micro enterprises with asset size of not more than PhP3.0 million may borrow PhP10,000 up to PhP200,000 while Small enterprises with asset size of not more than PhP10 million may borrow a higher amount not to exceed PhP500,000.00. The SB Corp. will soon release the requirements and guidelines. All applications will be accepted after the lifting of the Enhanced Community Quarantine.

For further details, you may visit www.dti.gov.ph DTI COVID-10 Resources under DTI Assistance and other Government Initiatives for MSMEs or www.sbgfc.org.ph, www.facebook.com/ PondosaPagbabagoatPagasenso and/ or email at  [email protected] / [email protected]

• Livelihood Seeding Program – Negosyo sa Barangay (LSP-NSB)

The allotted funding for the LSP-NSB amounts to PhP203 million, which will be used to provide a package of livelihood kits and business advisory assistance and services, amounting to at least PhP5,000 up to PhP8,000 to MSMEs affected by natural and human-induced calamities including health disasters.

The LSP-NSB Guidelines was revised to align and make it more responsive to the government directives on the COVID-19 situation. The coverage of the program was expanded to give priority assistance to MSMEs affected by health disasters arising from epidemics and pandemics.

For further inquiries, kindly send e-mail at [email protected]

• AGRICULTURAL CREDIT POLICY COUNCIL (ACPC) PROGRAM

• DA-ACPC P1-B loan facility for ‘Plant, Plant, Plant

The Department of Agriculture, through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), has approved an initial P1-billion loan assistance to marginalized farmers and fishers, as well as agri-fishery micro and small enterprises (MSEs) to enable them to cope during this state of national emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This financing program is part of the expanded SURE Aid and Recovery Project, in support of the “Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) Kontra COVID-19″ or Plant, Plant, Plant Program, which aims to increase farm productivity and ensure food sufficiency during the Covid-19 emergency situation.

In line with this, it will provide small farmers, fishers and agri-fishery MSEs with needed working capital to continue operations amid the enhanced community quarantine. Under the expanded loan program, eligible MSEs (single proprietorship, partnership, corporation or cooperative/association) may borrow up to P10 million at zero interest, payable up to five years.

On the other hand, individual farmers and fishers can borrow non-collateralized loan of P25,000 at zero interest and payable in 10 years. Only one borrower is allowed per farm/fisher household. He added that farmers, fishers and MSEs who will participate in the DA’s Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita program will be given priority.

For more information, kindly visit the link http://acpc.gov.ph/da-acpc-okays-p1-b-loan-facility-for-plant-plant-plant-program/, or at www.acpc.gov.ph and/or send email to [email protected]

• LANDBANK I-RESCUE Lending Program

The I-RESCUE Lending Program is LANDBANK’s support program for the SMEs, cooperatives, and microfinance institutions (MFIs) affected by the economic impact of the CoVid-19 pandemic to the country. The program will provide interim measures to help SMEs, co-ops and MFIs through provision of additional funds and by loan restructuring under more flexible terms and conditions. I-RESCUE supports RA 11469, also known as the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.”

General Lending Guidelines

Program Fund	Availment Period	Eligibility	Type of Credit Assistance	Other Terms Conditions
10 Billion Initial Internal Fund	Until December 31, 2020	SMEs, Cooperatives and MFIs	a. Rehabilitation of Credit Programs b. Rehabilitation thru Loan Restructuring	a. The borrower shall authorize the Bank to debit the account for maturing principal and interest amortization. b. Provision of Point of Sale Terminal by the Technology Management Group. c. Coops/MFI borrowers shall be entitled to LANDBANK assistance, such as trainings.

For the documentary requirements and other details of the program, kindly click the link (www.landbank.com/i-rescue-lending-program)