The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to implement the fuel discount program for farmers and fishers in a bid to assist the agriculture sector amid the adverse impact of the coronavirus disease and the continuous rise of oil price.
The program is a special provision under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for this year. It is set to benefit those in the agriculture business especially.
"The fuel discount will definitely help reduce the production and transport costs of major farm and fishery products, and subsequently temper their respective market prices, thus benefiting producers and consumers alike," said DA Secretary William Dar.
Under the 2022 GAA Special Provision No. 20, the the fuel discount will be covered by the P500 million that was set aside by Congress to provide fuel discount to farmers and fisherfolk when the average Dubai crude oil price based on Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS) for three months reaches or exceeds $80 per barrel.
The condition set, however, is that farmers or fisherfolk beneficiary should own and operate an agricultural and fishery machinery individually or through a farmer organization, cooperative or association.
Also, in the case of fisherfolk, their fishing vessels are registered in the Integrated Boat Registry System.
As for the farmers, they need to show proof of ownership of their farm machinery owned and/or operated by individual farmers or farmers' organizations.