TACLOBAN CITY — About 2,400 farmers in Baybay City received cash assistance on April 29, 2026, under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk Program (PAFFP), as the government responds to the impact of rising fuel and production costs on the agriculture sector.
The Department of Agriculture(DA) in the region distributed P2,325 each to qualified beneficiaries listed under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), prioritizing active farmers affected by higher fuel prices.
Officials said the cash aid is intended as flexible support to help farmers cover immediate production needs such as fuel for farm equipment, fertilizers, and crop protection inputs.
Beneficiaries welcomed the assistance, saying it would help ease the financial burden brought by increasing costs of farm operations.
Farmer Julito Bellen said the rising prices of gasoline and diesel have significantly affected their work in the fields.
“This is a big help for me because gasoline and diesel are very expensive now… Thank you very much to the Department of Agriculture for helping us farmers,” he said.
Another beneficiary, Nilda Solomon, said the aid could also help cover the cost of fertilizers and other essential farm inputs, which have likewise become more expensive.
“I am thankful for the programs now because there are many things we need to buy, such as fertilizers and medicines for our rice fields,” she said.
The distribution in Baybay City is part of a wider rollout of the PAFFP in Eastern Visayas, with similar payouts conducted in Southern Leyte, Basey, and Tacloban City to reach more farmers affected by rising production costs.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
