LAOAG CITY, July 22 -- Garlic growers and processors benefit from a microfinancing program supported by Taiwan, providing farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs with greater access to capital to improve productivity, expand operations and enhance the competitiveness of the local garlic industry.

Eric Pin Yu Chen, representative for the Taiwan Technical Mission in the Philippines, told the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday that at least 10 garlic incubatees have been selected so far this year for the grant.

"Each incubatee received PHP240,000. The amount can be used to start their business or to improve it," he said in an interview at the Garlic Incubation Center, located at the Tabacalera compound in front of Museo Iloco in this city. ...