Php 1.1-Billion Presidential Cash Assistance to Benefit Over 480,000 Farmers and Fisherfolk in Ilocos Region
LAOAG CITY – More than 480,000 farmers and fisherfolk across the Ilocos Region are set to benefit from the national government’s ₱1.1-billion Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF) Program, providing much-needed financial relief amid rising fuel prices and increasing agricultural production costs.
The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office I (DA-Ilocos Region) reported that the program is now reaching rural communities, including the hinterland areas of Ilocos Sur, where thousands of beneficiaries are receiving direct cash assistance.
According to Mark Ariel Agresor, Senior Science Specialist of DA-Ilocos Region assigned in Ilocos Sur, the agency recently conducted payout activities at the Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College–Narvacan Campus, where qualified farmers from the municipalities of Santa and Nagbukel received their financial assistance.
Under the program, 71,805 farmers in Ilocos Sur are scheduled to receive ₱2,325 each in unconditional cash aid. The distribution of assistance throughout the province is expected to be completed by June 19.
“This initiative aims to provide immediate relief to qualified farmers and fisherfolk who continue to face challenges brought about by rising fuel costs and the increasing prices of agricultural inputs,” Agresor said.
The PAFF program targets rice farmers cultivating two hectares or less, as well as registered corn and sugarcane farmers listed under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA). Municipal fisherfolk registered under the National Program for Municipal Fishing Vessels and Gears Registration System are likewise included among the beneficiaries.
With a total allocation of ₱1.1 billion, the Ilocos Region has identified 480,080 eligible beneficiaries, making the program one of the largest direct assistance initiatives for the agriculture and fisheries sectors in the region.
Government officials said the assistance reflects the administration’s continuing commitment to strengthening food security, supporting agricultural productivity, and improving the welfare of Filipino farmers and fisherfolk who serve as the backbone of the nation’s food supply chain.
As payouts continue across the region, the program is expected to provide timely economic support to thousands of rural families while helping sustain agricultural and fisheries production amid evolving economic challenges.
Source: NPO News Team | Philippine News Agency (PNA)
