A total of P240 million in Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF) will be distributed to 102,237 sugarcane farmers, 70,415 of whom are from the Visayas, Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona of the Sugar Regulatory Administration said on Saturday, April 18.
The recipients in the Negros Island Region are 56,400 sugarcane farmers, who account for more than 60 percent of our country’s sugar producers, he said.
The first batch of the PAFF totaling ₱13,578,000 for 5,840 sugarcane farmers was distributed to Negros Occidental sugarcane famers last week, Regional Director Jose Albert Barrogo of the Department of Agriculture Negros Island Region said Friday.
The recipients from Cadiz, Talisay, Silay and Victorias cities, and the municipalities of Manapla, EB Magalona, Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto received ₱2,325 each, he said.
The first batch release in Victorias City was attended by of Rep. Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District, Barrogo, and Azcona.
“The much-needed assistance for sugar farmers is another first, as sugar farmers are usually not included in assistance programs.,” Azcona said, adding that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the assistance for farmers registered with the DA and SRA.
“For this, I am very thankful to the President, to Agriculture Sec. Francisco Tiu-Laurel, and to Congressman Javi for including this appeal in his privilege speech”, Azcona said.*
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