A farmers association in Legazpi City, Albay was able not only to avoid loan sharks but also see growth and benefit its members through Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s Presyo, Trabaho, Kita/Kaayusan (PTK) program.
The Banquerohan Farmers Association, composed of 283 coconut farmers and 209 rice farmers, first received seed capital of P100,000 from PTK in 2015.
According to the group’s president Maria Valladolid, they used the money to fund its own loan program with five percent interest. Fellow members used the money to buy fertilizer and food for their families, and some were even able to pay their children’s tuition.
Valladolid said in contrast to loan sharks, the PTK program enabled the group to give loans to the farmers without the pressure of paying right away.
“Hindi pinipili kung sino lang kayang magbayad – lahat ng miyembro nagbe-benepisyo sa PTK,” she said.
“Y’ung iba bago ka makakuha sa bangko, ang daming requirements. Pero dito sa PTK, usapan lang, kami-kami lang nakakakuha na,” she added.
Cayetano’s PTK program is a 10-year-old initiative in which existing and new sectoral cooperatives are given seed capital in multiple tranches so they can help their members grow their small businesses and provide cash aid to members during crises.
In partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the program will distribute P2,500 in cash aid on Friday, March 3, to every member of the
Banquerohan Farmers Association as well as the Legazpi City Public Market Association in Legazpi City.
Capacity-building and skills training will also be organized in cooperation with other government agencies in a separate visit.
Valladolid expressed gratitude for the upcoming assistance, saying it has enabled her group to grow even through the difficult times during the pandemic. The group, she said, eventually managed to purchase machinery for their farming.
“Nilalabanan namin ang kahirapan kasi nandiyan si Senator Alan, sumusuporta sa amin,” she told the PTK team in a pre-payout visit to the province.
She also said their members have not lost hope “kasi may dumarating na tulong.”
“Pag may kailangan sila nagpupunta sila sa asosasyon,” Valladolid said.
She said because of the PTK, the group has now been accredited by other government agencies, including the Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Coconut Authority.
“Noong hindi pa kami makatayo sa sarili naming paa, nandyaan siya (Senator Cayetano) para i-mold kami at itayo. Dahil sa PTK, naging strong y’ung asosasyon namin,” she said.
