Marginalized and small farmers and fishers (MSFF) in Aklan, whose livelihoods were affected by the lockdown due to the rising cases of Covid 19, receive P25,000 loan under the SURE COVID-19 program. Said financial assistance has no interest, no collateral and is payable in 10 years.

The Integrated Barangays of Numancia MPC (IBONMPC), the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Credit Policy Council’s (DA-ACPC) lending conduit in the said province, released a total of P11.4 million which benefitted 456 MSFF from the municipalities of Altavas, Batan, and New Washington.

The DA-ACPC, along with the DA Regional Field Office (RFO) 6 and the concerned local government units (LGUs) worked together to make sure that the loan processing and releasing were quick, organized and in compliance with the ECQ protocols such as social distancing and wearing of masks.

“Following the orientation and the filling out of loan application forms, our farmers and fishers immediately received the P25,000 cash loan,” said Rikka Dela Cruz, ACPC’s Program Management Officer for Aklan.  She added that to avoid more people gathering, borrowers were advised to go straight home upon receiving their loans.

The DA-ACPC is currently setting up partnership with more lending conduits to cater to its initial target of 2,500 MSFF-beneficiaries from Region 6 under the program.