P100-M Fuel Assistance Set for Farmers and Fishers Ahead of Rising Oil Prices
MANILA – The government is preparing to distribute at least PHP100 million in fuel subsidies to Filipino farmers and fishers as oil price increases are expected due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
During a press conference, DA spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved PHP150 million for the fuel subsidy program. Out of this amount, PHP100 million has already been released to the DA and is ready to be distributed to beneficiaries.
Under the program, eligible farmers will receive a one-time fuel assistance of PHP5,000, while fishers will receive PHP3,000.
De Mesa said around 9,700 farmers are expected to be among the first to benefit from the subsidy. To qualify, farmers must be registered under the government’s Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and must own or rent machinery used in agricultural production.
Meanwhile, approximately 15,800 fisherfolk are expected to receive the initial round of assistance. Eligible fishers must also be registered with the RSBSA or the Municipal Fisherfolk Registration System (FishR), own fishing boats weighing three gross tons or less, and follow legal fishing practices.
The remaining PHP50 million will be released once global oil prices reach USD80 per barrel, which could happen if tensions in the Middle East continue to affect the global fuel supply.
Once fully implemented, the subsidy program will allocate PHP75 million for farmers and PHP75 million for fishers, benefiting around 14,500 farmers and 23,800 fisherfolk nationwide.
De Mesa added that the assistance will be released once beneficiaries complete their registration for the Interventions Monitoring Card (IMC). Farmers and fishers must register with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and a partner fintech provider to receive the card.
After completing the Know Your Client (KYC) verification process and submitting the required documents, beneficiaries will receive their IMC cards. The fuel subsidy will then be credited directly to these cards, which can be used for automatic payment transactions at partner fuel stations.
For areas with limited internet connectivity, the DA will provide fuel subsidy vouchers to ensure farmers and fishers can still access the assistance.
Aside from fuel support, the DA also plans to distribute farm inputs such as seedlings, fertilizers, and agricultural machinery during the next planting season to help reduce the impact of rising fuel costs on local food production.
“These are all provided for free to help our farmers,” De Mesa said.
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