Over 50,000 farmers, fisherfolk get P120-M cash aid in E. Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has completed the distribution of over P120 million in cash assistance to more than 50,000 farmers and fisherfolk in Eastern Visayas under a national government program designed to help them cope with rising fuel prices and production costs.

The financial assistance was released through the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk Program (PAFFP) from June 16 to July 14, benefiting recipients in 35 local government units (LGUs) across the region. Each beneficiary received P2,325 in direct cash assistance, according to the DA regional office.

The cash aid is intended to cushion the impact of higher fuel prices and rising costs of farm inputs, fertilizers, fishing supplies, and other production expenses that have significantly affected the livelihoods of small-scale farmers and fisherfolk.

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READ: Over 700 fishermen in Pangasinan receive cash aid from gov’t

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The PAFFP is a national government intervention launched by the Marcos administration to provide immediate financial relief to farmers and fisherfolk affected by soaring fuel prices. Beneficiaries are identified through the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and other government-validated databases.

The DA said the assistance would enable recipients to continue farming and fishing activities while helping them meet their families’ basic needs.

It added that the distribution is part of the government’s broader effort to sustain agricultural and fisheries production amid rising operating costs and ensure a stable food supply.

Eastern Visayas is one of the country’s major producers of rice, coconut, fisheries, and other agricultural commodities. However, farmers and fisherfolk in the region have faced shrinking incomes in recent years due to escalating fuel prices, higher fertilizer costs, and increasing expenses for farm and fishing inputs.

DA said it will continue implementing assistance and productivity programs aimed at improving the incomes of farmers and fisherfolk while strengthening the country’s food security./coa

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