Loans for Aklan farmers, fishers

The Department of Agriculture, through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, will extend loans to farmers and fisherfolk in Aklan to cushion the impact on them of the six-month closure of Boracay Island.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said this, adding that the President had placed the island under a state of calamity.

On his Facebook post, Pinol said he had already met with leaders of farmers groups to determine their needs during the period when tourists who were consuming most of their produce would be absent.

Also, farmers and fishermen can avail themselves of up to P25,000 in loan under the Survival and Recovery Loan Program without collateral and at zero interest.—KARL R. OCAMPO