Richard Montecino and his wife, Theresita, sell fresh fish at the Bool Junction Fresh Market in Dauis, Bohol. They live in Tagbilaran City and have four children.
To provide for his family, Richard took on the risks of fishing at an early age.
In December 2021, Typhoon Odette devastated their livelihood. “Noong nagkaroon ng Bagyong Odette, wala kaming huli at nasira ang aming bangka. Yung hanapbuhay namin nahinto dahil sa bagyo,” he recalled.
The storm not only took away their source of income, it also left them homeless. “Nasira ang bahay namin sa Odette, kaya sa tindahan na lang kami tumira,” Theresita shared.
Determined to rebuild their livelihood, Richard searched for a way to get back on his feet. Through a friend, he learned about the AgriNegosyo Loan Program of the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Credit Policy Council (DA-ACPC) and immediately inquired.
The program provides financial assistance to small farmers and fisherfolk (SFF), organizations, cooperatives, and agri-fishery micro and small enterprises (MSEs). Individual farmers and fishers can borrow up to P300,000, while MSEs can avail of loans up to P15 million, payable within five years.
Richard secured a P300,000 loan through the Bohol Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BCMPC), where he is a member. He used the funds to buy a new boat, fishing nets, fenders, a battery, and other essential gear.
Today, Richard and Theresita have successfully rebuilt their livelihood. They earn P1,000 to P3,000 daily, selling fresh fish such as tulingan, tamarong, and tambaká. Richard has been consistently repaying his loan and is now in his second year of payments. “Kapag may benta kami, inuuna ko nang bayaran ang utang sa coop,” he said.
Richard plans to continue fishing while Theresita manages their fish stall at the market. The couple is grateful for the opportunity to own a fishery business and even set aside savings. “Kapag nagbenta ako ng isda, lahat ng kita sa akin na. Hindi katulad noon na may kaltas pa,” he said.
For many farmers and fishers in the Philippines, typhoons pose a major threat. But for Richard, the financial assistance from ACPC allowed him to start over.
To aspiring fishers, he offers this advice: “Mahirap maging mangingisda kapag walang experience, dapat well-trained. Kapag wala kang diskarte, wala kang mahuhuling isda.”
Grateful for the support from ACPC and BCMPC, Richard expressed his appreciation: “Dahil sa tulong nila, nakabili ako ng bangka at gamit pangisda. Salamat sa pagkakataon na makapagsimula ulit.”
Seeing his fresh fish sell out each day fills Richard with joy – his hard work, resilience, and the support of his family continue to fuel his dream of a better future.
