SMALL-TIME farmers in the agricultural town of Candaba are set to receive financial assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA) under the Expanded Survival and Recovery (Sure) Program.

The newly-launched loan assistance program aims to help farmers who are affected by the impact of lower palay (unhusked rice) price, said Municipal Agriculture Officer Celedonia de Leon.

She added that under the program, registered rice farmers who are tilling one hectare of lot or below will receive a one-time loan assistance of P15,000 at zero percent interest rate payable in eight years.

“The program aims to provide immediate relief to rice farmers affected by the reduction or loss of their farm income brought about by the sudden drop of palay prices, as well as flooding,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mayor Rene Maglanque asked the DA to release the financial assistance of farmers by first week of October, if possible, so they can immediately utilize them for their livelihood.

“If we can release it earlier, then our farmers can use it immediately and make their harvest earlier, too. Our farmers are suffering so much so I hope we will not prolong their agony more,” he told DA officials.

In return, Maglanque told beneficiaries to live up with the terms of the loan and pay them in time so other farmers will be able to avail of it for next batches.

“The government is doing everything to help you so let us return that favor and give back what is due. In this way, your fellow farmers will have the same opportunity as yours,” he said.