President Marcos has tasked the departments of Agriculture and Finance to expedite the release of financial assistance for farmers.

Marcos made the call while he was distributing confiscated smuggled rice in Roxas City, Capiz on Friday, Oct. 6.
He said more than 10,000 beneficiaries are set to receive financial assistance in the province under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance Program.
"Dahil dito, inaatasan ko ang DA at ang Department of Finance na pabilisin ang pagmamahagi ng mga benepisyong ito (Because of this, I am ordering the Department of Agriculture and Department of Finance to immediately distribute this benefit)," the President said in his speech during the rice distribution.
The President said the effort is only among the first steps of the government in bolstering the agriculture sector in the country.
"Masaya po ako na makitang maraming natutulungan ang ating mga proyekto. Ibig sabihin lamang po nito ay tama ang tinutungo ng ating direksyon para sa pamumuno (I am happy to see that this project is able to help many people. It only means that we are taking the right direction in terms of leadership)," Marcos said.
"Ang hiling ko lamang po ay lalo ninyong pag-ibayuhin ang inyong sipag at tiyaga upang sa gayon ay mapabuti ninyo ang inyong buhay, at makatulong sa ibang mga Pilipinong kailangan din ng kaagapay (My only wish is for you to keep your perseverance in improving your life and to be able to help other Filipinos who need support)," Marcos added.
The Chief Executive was in Capiz to distribute around 1,000 sacks of rice to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
The rice donations are still a part of the 42,180 smuggled sacks worth P42 million that the Bureau of Customs confiscated in Zamboanga City in September.