1.18 million farmers have received P5,000 cash assistance, says DA
Published Jun 2, 2020 12:00 am
By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has completed the distribution of P5,000 cash assistance for each of the 1.18 million rice farmer-beneficiaries in the country.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar
(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN) During the virtual presser of the Inter-agency Task Force-Task Group on Food Security on June 2, Tuesday, Secretary William Dar reported that 591,246 rice farmers under the Financial Subsidy to Rice Farmers (FSRF), and 597,404 rice farmers under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) program have been provided cash assistance worth P5,000 each. Under the FSRF program, the P5,000 cash subsidy is part of the DA’s initiatives to assist small rice farmers who plant one hectare or less and located in 24 provinces not covered under the RFFA. RFFA beneficiaries are those tilling up to two hectares of rice farms. Dar also noted that 1,128,368 bags of seeds have been already delivered to the local government units. Due to the easing of restrictions in Metro Manila, Dar expects that “all our farmers and fishermen, as well as our staff and agencies in partnership with local government units in the countryside, can now move more at ease.” “This is the height of the preparation for the wet season planting. They continue farming and fishing at the same time selling their products because movement is better now. We can expect that more supply will be coming to our markets,” he pointed out. The DA chief reminded the public, however, to continue observing the minimum health standards to fight the spread of the coronavirus. “The situation is getting better but let’s not be complacent, just the same. Whatever health standards or protocols, we must always follow,” he added.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN) During the virtual presser of the Inter-agency Task Force-Task Group on Food Security on June 2, Tuesday, Secretary William Dar reported that 591,246 rice farmers under the Financial Subsidy to Rice Farmers (FSRF), and 597,404 rice farmers under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) program have been provided cash assistance worth P5,000 each. Under the FSRF program, the P5,000 cash subsidy is part of the DA’s initiatives to assist small rice farmers who plant one hectare or less and located in 24 provinces not covered under the RFFA. RFFA beneficiaries are those tilling up to two hectares of rice farms. Dar also noted that 1,128,368 bags of seeds have been already delivered to the local government units. Due to the easing of restrictions in Metro Manila, Dar expects that “all our farmers and fishermen, as well as our staff and agencies in partnership with local government units in the countryside, can now move more at ease.” “This is the height of the preparation for the wet season planting. They continue farming and fishing at the same time selling their products because movement is better now. We can expect that more supply will be coming to our markets,” he pointed out. The DA chief reminded the public, however, to continue observing the minimum health standards to fight the spread of the coronavirus. “The situation is getting better but let’s not be complacent, just the same. Whatever health standards or protocols, we must always follow,” he added.