The Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) extended emergency financing assistance to farmers and fisherfolk affected by the Marawi conflict. DA Undersecretary for Special Concerns Atty. Ranibai Dilangalen and ACPC Executive Director Jocelyn Alma R. Badiola handed over P10 Million worth of loans to the Mindanao Consolidated Cooperative Bank (MCCB) which shall serve as the lending conduit of the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Assistance Program.  Of the P10 Million fund, P5 Million is allocated for the farmers and fisherfolk affected by the Marawi conflict and the other P5 Million is  for the victims of Typhoon Auring in Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur.

The first batch of 80 farmers from Marawi received P5, 000 cash each for subsistence (survival package) during the check turn-over on July 22, 2017 in Iligan City. Farmers and fisherfolk who are eligible to borrow under the SURE Assistance Program may avail themselves of P25, 000 loan to enable them to finance the requirements of rehabilitating their farming and/or fishing areas and other livelihood activities.

Implemented by the DA-ACPC, the SURE Assistance Program aims to support the government’s goal of helping agricultural households in calamity-affected areas regain their capacity to earn a living and provide immediate relief to small farmers and fisherfolk. Through the SURE Assistance Program, the DA-ACPC is hopeful that the loans would help the affected small farmers and fisherfolk, particularly those who had to leave their lands/fishing grounds due to attacks by the terrorist group, to recuperate despite the on-going feud in Marawi.

Eligible borrowers under the program are small farmers and fisherfolk listed under the Registry System of Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) whose livelihood was affected by the calamity. The program offers 0% interest and a maximum loanable amount of P25, 000. Loans have a maturity period of up to 3 years as determined by the lending conduit depending on the gestation of the project financed and capacity of the borrower to repay the loan.

DA Undersecretary for Special Concerns Atty. Ranibai Dilangalen and ACPC Executive Director Jocelyn Alma R. Badiola handed over P10 Million worth of loans to the Mindanao Consolidated Cooperative Bank (MCCB) which shall serve as the lending conduit of the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Assistance Program

Beneficiaries of ACPC-SURE Assitance Program with Executive Director Badiola and Undersecretary Ranibai Dilangalen

ACPC SURE Team Leader Ma. Cristina G. Lopez and SURE Coordinator for Marawi Ms. Dina T. Mejias, Director II and Project Development Officer III respectively, coordinated with Provincial Agricultural Officer Pangalian Balindong, Jr., City Agriculturalist Officer of Marawi City Abdul Hadji Ali