Some 400 marginalized small farmers and fishers (MSFF) from Bukidnon availed of loans under the Expanded SURE Aid and Recovery Project or SURE COVID-19 of the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Credit Policy Council (DA-ACPC).

Under the program, each MSFF whose incomes were affected by the virus lockdown can borrow P25,000 for production and working capital needs payable up to 10 years with zero interest and no collateral.

“Malaki ang naitulong sa akin ng programang SURE COVID-19 dahil mabilis, madali at abot- kaya ang pautang talaga. Nagpapasalamat ako sa DA-ACPC dahil ang programang ito ang naging daan para manumbalik muli ang sigla ko sa pagsasaka,” Babylyn Bacho, one of the farmer beneficiaries from Magsaysay, Kitaotao, Bukidnon shared.

The DA-ACPC has tapped the Philippine International Travel Assistance Center Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PITAC-MPC) as its lending conduit for the province of Bukidnon.

Runy Crusio, DA-ACPC’s program management officer for Bukidnon said that despite travel restrictions during the ECQ, the DA-ACPC, in partnership with the PITAC MPC, DA-Regional Office X and the local government unit, was able to conduct orientations and distribute loans to  400 MSFF who  will be able to continue with their farming and fishing projects through the SURE COVID-19 Program.

DA-ACPC continues its efforts in providing easy access and affordable agri-fishery credit facilities to farmers and fishers to increase farm productivity and ensure food sufficiency amid COVID-19 pandemic.