ACPC released P8.5M loan to two CAR coops

April 22, 2017 Provincial

The Department of Agriculture (DA) – CAR continues to provide assistance to cooperatives in the region.
The Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) turned over P8.5 million to the Lengaoan Indigenous Farmers Credit Cooperative (LIFCC) and Pakiya Multi-purpose Cooperative (PMPC) last April 11, 2017at the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC), Strawberry Fields, La Trinidad, Benguet.
This loan release ceremony benefitted two cooperatives with 852 members and it was initiated by ACPC through the Philippines Veterans Banks under the Program for Unified Lending to Agriculture (PUNLA) project in Northern Luzon.
Undersecretary for High Value Crops and Rural Credit, Evelyn G. Laviña, questioned the cooperatives on what they achieved within the past 10 years. She then encouraged the beneficiaries to develop a five-year plan on how the loan money will be used. Laviña wanted them to review their vision, mission and goals so that their project would be sustainable.
“This five-year plan is the desire of each and every one to be independent. You should help one another to achieve development in the community. This plan will serve as your guide to achieve continuity so that you can stand on your own feet and sustain the loan fund to achieve your common goal”, said Laviña.
Laviña also urged these farmers to look at their cooperative as a body that can do everything if they move as one. They must assert their rights and find the niche from production to marketing, value chain, and supply and demand.
Meanwhile, Joaquin Depalog, manager of LIFCC, said “The loan money will be used in the cooperatives vegetable production especially to the semi-temperate crops. We’ll be updating our short and long term plans as required by USec. Laviña and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).”
Depalog hopes that these two cooperatives will spearhead a federation in the entire region to strengthen their camaraderie for the development of the community.
This loan release ceremony was a joint effort of the DA – CAR, ACPC, Philippine Veterans Bank, LIFCC, and PMPC. A. Canero III, A. Galanza, L. Mendoza / PR / ABN