The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to distribute ₱80.5 million in Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) payouts to 7,673 more smallholder sugarcane farmers affected by the Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI) infestation in seven local government units in Negros Occidental starting Thursday, August 6.
“We are also waiting for the validation of lists for ECT payouts to Negros Oriental farmers and workers of small farms affected by RSSI in the Negros Island Region,” DSWD-NIR Regional Director Arwin Razo said Wednesday, August 5.
Small farmers and farm workers in severely affected areas will receive ₱10,325 each, so total payouts could reach billions of pesos, he said.
“We need the validated lists coming from the local government units with technical assistance from the Sugar Regulatory Administration,” Razo said.
Local government units need to fast-track the submission of these lists because the DSWD is ready to begin payouts, he added.
“The indicative figure for small farmers to be covered in Negros Oriental is 12,000, but it may actually increase because validation is ongoing,” Razo said.
In Negros Occidental, 10,230 small farmers from Talisay City and Silay City were given ₱105 million last week.
Payouts for the 7,673 beneficiaries from Binalbagan, Moises Padilla, Isabela, San Carlos City, Don Salvador Benedicto, Cadiz City, and Sipalay City will resume Thursday and run through Tuesday of next week, he said.
The indicative figure for small farmers in Negros Occidental to be covered by the ECT is reaching 40,000, but the list still has to be validated, Razo said.
The financial assistance comes as part of ongoing relief efforts following severe crop losses caused by the sap-sucking agricultural pest.*
[sibwp_form id=1]