Qualified farmers, fishermen can get social amelioration from gov’t

April 23, 2020

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said qualified farmers and fishermen will also receive social amelioration from the government during the enhanced community quarantine.

The financial subsidy for rice farmers (FSRF) is part of the social amelioration program of the government for rice farmers.

''The fund for this is included at the general appropriation act 2020, each farmer who till one hectare and below, and are listed in the Registry System will receive 5,000 pesos,” he said.

“There are 34 provinces included in this program, this includes 26 provinces that are not included on the rice farmer financial assistance and eight provinces included in the RFFA,” he added.

Dar said “the recipients of FSRF can still receive cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) during its second tranche of distribution.''

He  added that only rice farmers in selected provinces are included based on the criteria originally set under the RCEF program. Hence, those who are not FSRF beneficiaries must receive the regular SAP from the DSWD.

“We do not want to discriminate other farmers, and also fishers, from the financial assistance being given by the government to the marginalized sector of our society. It just so happened that the fund and implementing guidelines of the FSRF has already been finalized and approved early this year, even before the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dar said.

“This is actually the second tranche of the Rice Farmer Financial Assistance (RFFA) program that we rolled out last year for rice farmers tilling 0.5 to 2 hectares,” he added.

Dar said in December 2019, the department has started to distribute P5,000 cash assistance to farmers in 33 provinces severely affected by the low price of palay under the RFFA. He said more than 597,000 farmers will benefit, of which 100 percent will be totally paid within the month.

“The DA’s SAP focuses on the affected agricultural sector of the country. We are trying to maximize our resources, while ensuring the no one is left behind. We have been continuously coordinating with the DSWD to ensure that those not covered under the FSRF will still be given assistance,” Dar said.

He noted that since the rolling out of the FSRF early April, the DA has confirmed 234,586 beneficiaries for payout which is expected to cater to more than 591,000 beneficiaries after completion.

Dar said to claim assistance qualified farmers may coordinate with their municipal or city agriculture office to know the schedule and mechanics of distribution in their locality.

He said the Land Bank of the Philippines, the department’s partner financial institution, will send out messages and announcements on the claiming of cash cards loaded with the P5,000 cash assistance. Robina Asido/DMS