The Department of Agriculture in Caraga Region (DA-13) released a PHP5 million grant to Surigao City-based Perlas ng Silangan Multipurpose Cooperative (PERLASS Coop) on Wednesday through its Agri-Enterprise Capability Enhancement Assistance (AECEA) grant program.

“The funding will be utilized to enhance the aquaculture production and consolidation projects of the cooperative,” DA-13 said in a statement.

The funding was personally handed over by DA-13 Regional Executive Director Ricardo Oñate Jr. to PERLASS Coop officers led by chairperson Lea Sarvida.

Sarvida said the grant will be used for the development of a Norwegian Cage and a prefabricated container storage for their aquaculture project.

“Part of the grant will also be utilized to purchase a delivery vehicle to reach more markets and an allocation of PHP1 million, which will serve as our working capital,” she added.

The AECEA is a financial grant program implemented under the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service of DA-13, designed to empower and build the capacity of farmers and fisherfolk by providing support to their projects. (PNA)