THIS may be called by those who did not experience it sour grapes. But if we give them the benefit of the doubt, these sour grapes have been authentically foisted on us.

I speak of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) and its dubious claims to helping small and medium, even micro businesses, especially those affected by Covid-19. Indeed, its sumptuous website has a specific division called I-Rescue for 'Interim Rehabilitation and Support to Cushion Unfavorably Affected Enterprises by the Covid- 19.' It is also billed as a government financial institution that strikes a balance in fulfilling its social mandate of promoting countryside development and having the means to do so. Supposedly its profits from commercial banking are used to finance programs and initiatives for farmers, fisherfolk and the micro, small and medium enterprises.