Filipinos affected by severe tropical storm Kristine can now avail of calamity loans offered by the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Home Development Mutual Fund or PAG-IBIG Fund.

Peewee Villanueva, Land Bank SVP and head of corporate affairs group, said the Land Bank CARES Plus program offers financial aid to farmers, fishers, cooperatives, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), large corporations, and electric distribution utilitie to recover from disaster-related losses.

"Ito ay availale sa ma SMEs, mga korporasyon, electic utility distributors...Binibigay din ito sa existing clients na farmers and fishers para ma-restructure and kanilang mga loans," Villanueva said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

"Alam naman natin na sa komunidad kapag bumabagyo o may disaster, kailangan natin suportahan ang mga komunidad para matulungan nila ang mga tao. Mga SMEs at cooperatives meron silang mga miyembro. Ang ating mga korporasyon merong mga empleyado na pwedeng tulungan."

Villanueva said that under the restructuring program, existing clients who live or work in areas declared under a state of calamity due to severe tropical storm Kristine may be given a grace period of 1 year before starting repayment. 

"That is what is unique because you can pay after 1 year if you are in an area struck by calamity. Siyempre kung kaya mo na magbayad [mas mabuti]. Minsan may lugar na talagang nasasalanta at mahirap bumangon," she noted. 

Those availing of calamity loans under the Land Bank CARES Plus program can get up to 80 percent of needed capitalization depending on the assessment of Land Bank officers.

"Pwede na sa kanila ngayon once a state of calamity is declared pwede na sila mangutang. Within 2 years na na-declare pwede sila mangutang," she said, adding that the loans can be issued as quickly as 2 weeks once all requirements are submitted. 

Loan repayment can be done in 5-10 years, she added. 

Similarly, the PAG-IBIG Fund is also offering calamity loans to members who are residing or working in areas under state of calamity.

Atty. Kalin Franco-Garcia, PAG-IBIG VP for public relations, said those availing of PAG-IBIG calamity loans should be members for at least 2 years or have 24 months of premiums. 

She said the member should also have had one payment in the last 6 months. 

PAG-IBIG Fund members affected by Kristine in areas not under state of calamity can also apply for a PAG-IBIG multipurpose loan.

"Pareho lang siya. [You can loan] 80 percent of your savings in PAG-IBIG Fund," she said.

Those applying for a loan should fill up a PAG-IBIG calamity loan application form, present proof of income, and ID. "Mahirap lang minsan nabaha, so you can get certificate from the barangay," she said.  

Those applying for a Land Bank loan should visit lending centers under the Land Bank CARES program.