by Michael Vincent D. Cajulao
Pagadian City - Bent on extending all possible support to small businesses in the region, the national government, thru the Department of Agriculture IX, is encouraging all micro, small and medium entrepreneurs engaged in agriculture to avail of their various programs.
DA has lined up different programs that will assist small businesses in the region from emergency livelihood assistance, to financial assistance for improvement of existing projects to product marketing.
The Support to Emergency Livelihood Assistance Program (SELAP) is designed to extend assistance to associations or organizations identified and acknowledged by the different local government units in the region. This program is a direct partnership between DA and the LGU. The LGUs are required to produce their counterparts, to form part of the total assistance to beneficiaries.
Another program of DA is the Agricultural Competitive Enhancement Fund (ACEF). One of the major programs of DA aimed at making small entrepreneurs globally competitive, ACEF prioritizes beneficiaries involved in products whose quantitative restrictions had been lifted by Republic Act 8178, those under the Minimum Access Volume mechanism, products that are affected by the country's compliance w/ the commitment under the World Trade Organization, and whose project beneficiaries include cooperatives or associations of small famers and fisher folks.
Eligible or qualified beneficiaries or proponents are cooperatives or associations of Filipino farmers, fisher folks, micro, small and medium enterprises engaged in agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries sectors.
Government organizations with joint venture or undertakings with farmers, fisher folks, women's group, young agriculture and fishery graduates, people's organizations and indigenous people (IP) are also qualified to avail of the program. Schools and education institutions engaged in agriculture and fisheries are also eligible for the program.
DA requires applicants to produce equity depending on the bracket the proponent belongs. If the proponent is classified as micro entrepreneur, w/ enterprise total not exceeding P3 million, the ratio is 80% from ACEF and 20% equity. Small enterprises, w/ assets amounting from P3 million to P15 million, the ratio is 70% from ACEF while 30% is equity while medium enterprises ratio is 60-40, with the latter as equity. The total amount of asset under this classification is P15 million up to P100 million.
ACEF is designed to help improve the SMEs' earnings by providing funds needed to acquire needed technologies and facilities for improved production and product quality that is at par w/ the international market standards.
Aside from these programs, DA helps SMEs promote their products through trade fairs and exhibits, both local and international, to establish markets for their products. DA also aids SMEs through the establishment of barangay bagsakan in the entire region to help spur economic activity especially in some municipalities in the region. It serves as a one-stop-shop for all local products.
DA IX Regional Executive Director Oscar Parawan gave his order to all provincial offices in the region to continue extending full support to SMEs through these programs as these are in direct compliance w/ the national government's thrust. (PIA9-ZC)
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