TACLOBAN CITY — At least 1,200 rice farmers from Palo and Tacloban City received financial assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA) as part of the government’s effort to cushion the impact of rising fuel and production costs.
The assistance was distributed during a payout caravan held on April 22, 2026, at the DA regional office in Kanhuraw Hill under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk Program (PAFFP).
Each beneficiary received P2,325 in unconditional cash aid, funded through Republic Act No. 12314, which earmarks P10 billion for more than 4.17 million farmers and fisherfolk nationwide.
Officials said the program aims to help small-scale producers sustain their operations amid increasing expenses, particularly for fuel used in farm activities.
Farmers welcomed the assistance, calling it timely as costs of diesel and gasoline continue to rise.
Christopher Dela Cruz, president of the Association of Tagpuro Farmers United for Progress, said the aid would help ease farm-related expenses.
Eligible beneficiaries include rice farmers cultivating no more than two hectares, as well as corn and sugarcane farmers and registered fisherfolk actively engaged in production.
The PAFFP covers individuals listed under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and BoatR, serving as a direct support mechanism to maintain agricultural productivity despite economic pressures.
The DA said similar payout caravans will be conducted across Eastern Visayas in the coming weeks to extend assistance to more farmers and fisherfolk in the region.
(ALEXA A. PATAWARAN, LNU STUDENT INTERN)
