DA begins P10-B aid rollout to 4.1M farmers, fishers
MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has launched the nationwide distribution of the PHP10-billion Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF), targeting over 4.1 million beneficiaries across the country.
The financial assistance comes as farmers and fishers grapple with rising fuel, transport, and production costs, partly driven by ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the aid, set at PHP2,325 per eligible beneficiary, aims to provide immediate relief and help sustain food production despite mounting expenses.
“While modest, this assistance offers critical support to millions of Filipino food producers affected by surging fuel prices,” he said.
Data from the DA showed that most beneficiaries are from the rice sector, totaling around 2.197 million farmers. This is followed by 1.475 million corn producers, more than 102,000 sugar farmers, and about 399,000 fisherfolk.
Initial payouts under the first tranche will be released in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Western Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula.
Alongside the PAFF, the DA is also accelerating the rollout of fuel subsidies, securing additional funding for farm inputs and logistics, and expanding access to post-harvest facilities to address longer-term challenges in the agriculture sector.
NPO News Team | News Philippine Agency - PR
