HELP FOR ANIMAL RAISERS. Dr. Renante Decena (center), provincial veterinarian, with personnel of the Provincial Veterinary Office District 6 Field Units during a recent animal exhibit of the Agricultural Fair in Cauayan town. The PVO is assisting animal raisers in availing of a loan from the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund of the Department of Agriculture. (File photo courtesy of PVO-Negros Occidental)
BACOLOD CITY -- A total of 14 animal raisers in Negros Occidental have availed of a PHP5-million loan assistance from the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The beneficiaries include small and backyard livestock and poultry raisers being assisted by the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO).
Dr. Renante Decena, provincial veterinarian, said on Tuesday that the assistance covers the preparation of business or farm plans and proposals, budget to easily avail of the loan program, and actual operation of the project.
“As a support to the sustainable growth of PVO-organized and assisted animal raisers organizations, we are committed to render technical assistance to all interested animal raisers,” he added.
Decena said the PVO was able to prepare 26 business plans and then endorsed these to the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP). Fourteen proponents received financial assistance in the form of a loan.
Other interested livestock and poultry raisers who would want to avail of the ACEF program can visit the PVO office in Bacolod City from Monday to Friday, Decena said.
“We are willing to render technical assistance and cater to their needs,” he added.
The ACEF, which can be accessed only through a loan program with the LBP, aims to increase the productivity of farmers by providing the necessary credit to individual animal raisers and their cooperatives and associations, as well as micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for the acquisition and establishment of production facilities and other farm inputs.
A maximum of PHP5 million can be availed of by farmer and fisherfolk cooperatives, associations, and MSMEs while each qualified individual animal raiser can avail of a loan of up to PHP1 million. (PNA)
