PALO, Leyte – The implementation of the Buklod Unlad (BUKO) program, a micro-finance facility of the United Coconut Planters Bank-Coconut Industry Investment Foundation (UCPB-CIIF) Finance and Development Corporation, was able to lend a total of P5.15 million to its female members in 10 municipalities in Leyte last year.

Alfiero Morallos, BUKO microfinance supervisor her, told Leyte Samar Daily Express that about 671 borrower-members of the 124 groups from these municipalities were among the beneficiaries of the BUKO program last year.

The branch-municipalities of the UCPB-CIIF BUKO program include Palo, Babatngon, Tanauan, Dagami, Tolosa, Sta. Fe, Pastrana, Alangalang, Jaro and San Miguel all in Leyte.

The UCPB-CIIF central processing office covering the loan transactions of the borrowers in these municipalities is located in this town.

When it started to release money to borrowers on the months of April, May, and June of 2004, the BUKO Program was able to lend P645, 000 or 12.5% of the total releases to 144 members in 28 groups; on July P466, 000 or 9.0% was released to 97 borrowers in 19 groups; On August about P912, 000 or 17.7% was released to 172 members in 33 groups; in the month of Sept. with P725, 373.50 or 14.1% to 50 members of 11 groups; last Oct. with P632, 000 or 12.26% of monetary releases to the 65 members of 14 groups; last Nov. with P626, 000 or 12.14% was released to 56 borrowers in 12 groups; and last Dec. with the highest monthly release of P1, 148, 000 or 22.3% to 37 borrowers in seven groups.

Morallos pointed this out as a good accomplishment on their part considering that they have just started operating in Leyte last year.

“We also appreciate the cooperation and the trust the people of Leyte have shown to us with some of them transferring from one lending institution to us,” Morallos said.

Morallos also said they are planning to expand the BUKO program not only in Leyte but in the entire region.

The fund being used for the BUKO program comes from the interest of the controversial coco levy fund .