1,000 MARAWI FARMERS, FISHERMEN
RECEIVE FINANCIAL HELP FROM DA
By Manny Piñol
Marawi City – There were smiles and laughter among some 1,000 farmers and fishermen in the city gymnasium of Marawi City yesterday as the Department of Agriculture released an initial Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loaning Program to help them rebuild their lives following the destruction caused by the conflict which wracked the city and nearby areas last year.
These were the same farmers and fishermen who several months ago were identified by the DA Regional Office X based in Cagayan de Oro City as among those who lost their livelihood because of the conflict and included in the list of beneficiaries of the SURE Loaning Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC).
Yesterday, each of them received an ATM Card which was named “Kababayaan E-Card” or “Love E-Card” issued by the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) which was selected as the conduit bank for the loaning program.
Each of the Kababayaan E-Card contained an initial assistance of P5,000 which will eventually increase to P25,000 for every affected family.
The loan has no interest and no collateral payable in three years as the farmers and fishermen are expected to have fully recovered from the damage caused by the conflict.
“Maraming salamat kay President Duterte at mabuti ito na ATM card ang bigay sa amin para walang puede magkaltas,” said one Maranao woman who belongs to a cooperative of farmers.
(We thank President Duterte and this is a good idea to give us ATM cards so that nobody can touch our money.)
The initial amount of P5,000 is intended to help the farmers and fishermen buy the basic things they need, including food, while the remaining P20,000 which will be released in tranches will be used to rebuild their farms.
Also yesterday, the DA-ACPC announced the launching of the Padian Na Bangsamoro or Market of the Bangsamoro which will be the version of the TienDA Malasakit Stores in the Bangsamoro area.
Under the Padian Na Bangsamoro, women’s groups will be encouraged to organize themselves and run a neighborhood store which will sell basic household needs like rice, sugar, salt, cooking oil, spices, sardines and later even halal poultry and meat and fish.
The Padian Na Bangsamoro will be funded with a loan from DA-ACPC and will be launched next month.
(Photos of the turn-over of the Kababayaan E-Card in Marawi City yesterday were taken by Alan Jay Jacalan and Anacleto Degorio, DA AFID Biyaheng Bukid team.)
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