DBP sets P2-B credit line for uniformed personnel

State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has granted a P2-billion credit line to one of the largest cooperatives in the country for relending to its members composed mainly of members of the military, a top official said.

DBP president and chief executive officer Cecilia Borromeo said the bank’s loan assistance to the Philippine Army Finance Center Producers Integrated Cooperative (PAFCPIC) is aimed at broadening support to small borrowers like soldiers and micro-entrepreneurs who wish to set-up their own business or expand their operations.

“Through this P2-billion revolving credit line, PAFCPIC will be able to augment its working capital and enable it to grant more loans to its eligible borrowers,” Borromeo said.

PAFCPIC is the second largest cooperative in Metro Manila and was founded in 1981 by employees of the Philippine Army Finance Center, an instiThe tution that handles the payroll and other financial matters of the Philippine Army.

The cooperative was initially created to support the agriculture activities of its members but has diversified into other types of lending such as salary, multi-purpose and business loans to its more than 120,000 members.

Borromeo said DBP is prepared to provide similar assistance to other cooperatives, pursuant to the bank’s mandate to assist budding entrepreneurs.

DBP president and chief executive officer Cecilia Borromeo (fourth from left) shakes hands with PAFCPIC chairman Francisco Paredes after signing a P2-billion loan agreement during ceremonies held last July 26 in Taguig City. The DBP credit line will be used in relending to eligible borrowers of the cooperative, majority of which are in the military. Also in photo are (from left): PAFCPIC vice president for cooperative planning retired Lt. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, PAFCPIC president Fernando Zabat, DBP executive vice president Anthony Robles and DBP senior vice president Lilia Baun.