Farmers lose debt gamble in typhoon-plagued Philippines
Santa Rosa, Philippines (AFP) Oct 25, 2015 - Philippine rice farmer Francisco Santo Domingo's life is in ruins after losing yet another gamble with nature, but the typhoon that destroyed his crops means gleeful loan sharks have again hit the jackpot. Like thousands of other farmers, Santo Domingo will be forced to go back to the "shadow" bankers who dominate the nation's agricultural economy and take on even more debt at exorbitant int ... more

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