Some 100 farmers and fishers from the province of Bohol are beneficiaries of the Expanded SURE Aid and Recovery Project or SURE COVID-19 of the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Credit Policy Council (DA-ACPC).

Metro Ormoc Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative (OCCCI), one of DA-ACPC’s partner lending conduits in Bohol initially released a total of P750,000 loan funds to 30 farmers and fishers. OCCI received a total of P2.5 million loan funds for farmer and fisher-borrowers in the municipalities of Ubay and Talibon, Bohol.

Under the SURE COVID-19, each beneficiary receives P25,000.00 loan with zero-interest, no collateral, and payable up to 10 years.

 “Kung magiging maulan ngayong Hunyo, ang matatanggap ko mula sa SURE COVID-19 ay gagamitin kong pambili ng binhi at gamit sa palayan, kasama na rin ang similya para sa aming fishpond,” said farmer-beneficiary Feve Villa of Talibon, Bohol. “Ang masasabi ko lang sa kapwa ko magsasaka ingatan natin ang pera na ipinagkatiwala sa atin at sana ay malaguin natin ito,” she added.

According to Eloiza Marie Flores, DA-ACPC focal person for Bohol, the release was done in batches so as not to compromise the health and safety of the public. The OCCCI will continue to fast track the loan processing and release to be able to help farmers and fishers needing financial aid.