In order to fast track the release of loans to marginalized small farmers and fishers (MSFF) from the province of Kalinga in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Credit Policy Council (DA-ACPC) partnered with three (3) lending conduits  for the implementation of the Expanded SURE Aid and Recovery Project or SURE COVID-19.

About 517 Kalinga MSFF whose incomes were affected by the months-long enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon will receive their P25,000 zero-interest, no-collateral emergency loans. The DA-ACPC tapped the: 1) Rizal Multi-Purpose Cooperative to service the municipalities of Rizal and Pinukpuk; 2) Treasurelink Cooperative Society for the city of Tabuk; and 3) St. Thomas Credit Cooperative for the municipalities of Tanudan, Balbalan and Pasil. The DA-ACPC has approved a total fund allocation of Php 12.925 million for these 3 lending conduits.

Rizal MPC has already disbursed loans to its first batch of 40 farmers in the municipality of Rizal on June 18, 2020. Rizal MPC is set to release loans this week benefitting 100 MSFF for the municipality of Rizal and 100 MSFF for the municipality of Pinukpuk, with a total fund allocation of Php 5 million.

Despite the logistical challenges of community quarantine restrictions in the region, DA-ACPC Program Management Officer for CAR Krystle Balingan, and focal persons Lloyd Bayangan and Luis Edpis coordinated with the municipal local government units (MLGUs) through the Municipal Agriculture Offices (MAOs) and DA-Regional Field Office (DA-RFO CAR) to facilitate the approval of partner lending conduits, identification and validation of eligible borrowers in the province while adhering to community quarantine protocol.