Some 7,947 farmers in Bago City and Pulupandan in Negros Occidental have received cash aid under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF) program, data from the Department of Agriculture-Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) showed.
Among the beneficiaries are rice farmers Emalyn Morales of Barangay Busay and Jerson Esparas of Barangay Napoles, who welcomed the financial assistance of PHP2,325 each that they can use for their household expenses.
“I’m really thankful for being one of the recipients. This is a big help, I can buy rice and provide for my child’s school needs,” Morales said in an interview posted by the Bago City Information Office on Monday.
The payout was held at the Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum and Cultural Center in Bago City on June 11.
The two farmers from Bago City are among the 128,049 farmers in Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor covered by the PHP297.7 million allocation for PAFF under the DA-NIR.
“This is the assistance from the President. In Bago City, we released the PAFF for rice, corn and sugarcane farmers. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is in charge of the release of the financial assistance for fisherfolk,” DA-NIR Director Jose Albert Barrogo said.
The recipients are farmers registered under the DA Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture, who are provided financial assistance to help them cope with rising production costs, high fuel prices, and other challenges affecting their livelihood.
Data showed that in Negros Occidental, 75,307 beneficiaries are covered by an allocation of PHP175.088 million. Among them are 57,389 rice farmers, 6,370 corn farmers, and 11,548 sugarcane farmers.
In Negros Oriental, PHP115.696 million has been allocated for 49,762 beneficiaries, including 20,015 rice farmers, 6,370 corn farmers and 692 sugarcane farmers, while in Siquijor, 2,980 rice farmers have an allocation of PHP6.928 million.*PNA
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