A total of PHP297.7 million in financial aid has been allocated to rice, corn and sugarcane farmers in the Negros Island Region (NIR) under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF) program.
Data from the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday showed the current allocation will benefit 128,049 farmers in Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor. The farmers are eligible to receive PHP2,325 each.
DA-NIR Director Jose Albert Barrogo said the financial assistance is intended to partly help the beneficiaries in their fuel expenses for farming and fishing.
“Though the amount is minimal, the government is continuously finding ways to assist our food producers as much as we could,” he said.
In Negros Occidental, 75,307 beneficiaries are covered by an allocation of PHP175.088 million. Of the number, 57,389 are rice farmers, 6,370 corn farmers, and 11,548 sugarcane farmers.
Those from Negros Oriental have an allocation of PHP115.696 million for 49,762 beneficiaries. They include 20,015 rice farmers, 6,370 corn farmers and 692 sugarcane farmers.
Over at Siquijor, there are 2,980 rice farmers who have an allocation of PHP6.928 million.
As of Friday, 83,611 target beneficiaries have been served across the region, with total amount paid of PHP194.395 million.
In Bacolod City 613 rice, corn and sugarcane farmers received financial aid totaling PHP1.425 million during the payout held at the Bacolod City Government Center on May 13.*
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