DA rolls out P10 billion aid for farmers, fisherfolk

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MANILA, Philippines —  The Department of Agriculture has begun rolling out a P10-billion cash assistance for about 4.17 million registered agricultural workers under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk Program (PAFFP).

In a statement, DA said farmers and fisherfolk nationwide are each expected to receive P2,325 in cash assistance through the PAFFP as production costs rise amid the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran.

“This financial assistance, while admittedly small, provides a lifeline for over 4.1 million Filipino farmers and fisherfolk hit hard by soaring petroleum product prices,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said yesterday.

The program aims to improve cash flow into rural communities affected by rising fuel costs and help prevent disruptions in local farm production, as most agricultural machinery, irrigation pumps and boats are fueled by diesel.

Initial payouts of the cash assistance are expected to begin this week, starting with producers and fisherfolk in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Western Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula.

Also targeted as beneficiaries are rice farmers tilling two hectares and below, as well as corn and sugarcane farmers under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).

Fisherfolk registered under the National Program for Municipal Fishing Vessels and Gears Registration (BoatR) and the RSBSA will also receive financial aid.

The DA earlier said the cash assistance would be distributed through its Interventions Monitoring Cards, which can be used for withdrawing cash and pay for goods and services via automated teller machines and online banking.

“The support can provide short-term relief, but it does not address longer-term issues such as high input costs, limited access to financing and exposure to climate related risks,” the agency said.

DOLE cash aid

Meanwhile, around 55,000 drivers nationwide are set to benefit from the Department of Labor and Employment’s “TUPAD Tuloy Pasada” program, backed by an initial allocation of P1.2 billion.

In an interview with “One Balita” on Tuesday, DOLE Assistant Secretary Lennard Constantine Serrano said the initiative is a refocused implementation of the agency’s existing Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, this time prioritizing drivers in the transport sector.

The initial rollout covered 134 jeepney drivers.

Wages are released every 10 days through remittance systems, with beneficiaries expected to receive their pay within two weeks of service.

Speaking at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said greater support from local government units (LGUs) is needed to expand the scope of the service contracting program for affected PUV drivers and operators.

The national government is currently offering a net service contracting scheme wherein drivers still collect fares but the government provides a top-up subsidy or incentive based on the number of trips or mileage, ensuring a stable income for drivers.

With a P1-billion budget, Lopez admitted that they can only accommodate major routes in the country. – Christine Boton