Posted on

An initial P700,000 loan funds have been disbursed by the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Credit Policy Council’s (DA-ACPC) partner lending conduit in the province of Misamis Occidental benefitting 28 marginalized and small farmers and fisherfolk (MSFF).

The Paglaum Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PMPC), DA-ACPC’s partner lending conduit in the province released the said loans in Tangub, Misamis Occidental on April 21, 2020. The PMPC targets to provide loans to 400 MSFF in the province, says Ms. Joan Vargas, ACPC’s Program Management Officer for Region X.

Under the DA-ACPC SURE COVID-19 program, MSFF whose livelihoods were affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to pandemic may avail themselves of a non-collateralized, interest-free loan worth P25,000 payable up to 10 years. The enhanced ECQ, did not deter the DA-ACPC and PMPC to provide the financial assistance needed by the farmers and fishers in Misamis Occidental whose productivity were affected by the pandemic.  Ms. Mary Grace Tambus, ACPC’s field-based Program Management Officer for Misamis Occidental assisted the farmers and fishers in their loan applications and availment.

A women-farmer beneficiary presents her accomplished application form for the DA-ACPC’s SURE COVID-19. Also in photo are (from left): Paglaum Multi-Purpose Cooperative’s Operations Manager Arnold Parcutilo, General Manager Gadwin Handumon, and Legal Officer Mark Liboon during the initial loan release to 28 farmers and fishers on April 21, 2020 in Tangub City.
Farmers and fishers from Misamis Occidental were given orientation about DA-ACPC’s SURE COVID-19 by the Paglaum Multi-Purpose Cooperative officers while observing social distancing protocol.