The national government has approved the distribution of P500 million worth of fuel subsidy for farmers and fisherfolks amid the adverse effects of the continuous oil price hikes, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Friday, March 4.
DA Sec. William Dar said the move is to reduce the production and transport cost of their products, especially that there is still no assurance that oil prices would go down.
Dar said that the average Dubai crude oil price had reached $80 (over P4,000) for three consecutive months from December 2021 to February this year and this means that the government can now release the P500 million fuel discount program under the Special Provision No. 20 of the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
“Pwede na raw sabi ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) kahapon (The DBM has agreed to this yesterday). We are going to submit the guidelines today, and we’ll immediately file the joint circular for the distribution to corn farmers and fishers,” Dar said in Laging Handa briefing.
Aside from the fuel discount program for corn farmers and fishers, Dar said that the department continuously provides them with P5,000 worth of Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) and fertilizers and seeds.
In an earlier statement, Dar said that the fuel subsidy would only apply to farmers and fishers who own agricultural or fishery machinery individually or through farmer organizations, cooperatives, or organizations.
Beneficiaries would also need to present proof of ownership, and owners should register their fishing vessels in the DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Integrated Boat Registry System.