By Manny Piñol
Miagao, Iloilo – Eighty of the 381 farmers from the towns of Miagao and Oton in Iloilo who availed of production loans from government suffered from crop failures in their Bulb Onion farming this season but they went home happy just like their successful neighbors.
The Unlucky 80 who lost their crops to Drought and other natural calamities received insurance payments yesterday from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation amounting to P971,000.
The insurance payments, however, went directly to the Rural Bank of Miagao, the conduit bank, to cover the loans they obtained under the Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA).
In addition to the insurance coverage, each of the 80 farmers who suffered crop losses will be granted a P25,000 emergency loan called Survival and Recovery Loaning Program.
SURE Loaning, which I personally conceptualized along with the PLEA is granted to farmers, fishermen and other agriculture stakeholders who suffer losses because of natural or man-made calamities.
It is granted without collateral and Zero Interest payable in three years and is intended to help the victims recover from their losses.
From the podium where I stood earlier today to explain the benefits for farmers and fishermen offered by the Duterte Administration, I saw several farmers cry while others applauded loudly in jubilation.
I understood the feeling.
For the first time in their lives, they feel that government truly cares for them.
(Photos by Mayette Tudlas, OSEC)
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