4,000 Farmers Receive Cash Aid in Ilocos; 480,000 More to Benefit Regionwide
Laoag City – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has begun distributing unconditional cash assistance to about 4,000 pilot beneficiaries across the Ilocos Region, marking the initial rollout of a broader support program for farmers and fisherfolk.
The aid falls under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk Program (PAFFP), which aims to cushion small-scale producers from rising farm input costs and fluctuating fuel prices.
In Batac City, 1,808 farmers from San Nicolas gathered at the Ilocos Norte Research and Experiment Center to receive PHP2,325 each. Among them was rice farmer Roderick Asuncion, who cultivates less than a hectare of land and plans to use the assistance for the upcoming wet planting season.
The DA has earmarked PHP10 billion for the program nationwide, targeting farmers most vulnerable to escalating production expenses. Qualified beneficiaries include rice farmers cultivating two hectares or less, as well as corn and sugarcane growers listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture.
Fisherfolk enrolled in the National Program for Municipal Fishing Vessels and Gears Registration are also eligible for the unconditional cash grants.
Initial disbursements this week covered pilot areas including Batac City in Ilocos Norte, San Juan in Ilocos Sur, San Fernando City, and Sta. Barbara in Pangasinan.
To facilitate verification, beneficiaries are required to present their RSBSA identification cards or any valid government-issued ID.
As the program expands beyond its pilot phase, government data shows that about 480,080 farmers across Region 1 are expected to benefit from the initiative.
NPO News Team | Philippine News Agency - PR
