Tisay Ulam's video: DA set to give cash aid to over 20K Negrense rice farmers Bombo Radyo news Erlyn Bayonita

BACOLOD CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is targeting at least 20,488 small rice farmers in Negros Occidental as recipients of the PHP5,000 cash assistance under the Financial Subsidy to Rice Farmers (FSRF) program. Engineer Jose Albert Barrogo, DA-Western Visayas team leader for Negros Occidental, said on Tuesday about PHP102 million has been allocated for the province out of the total PHP3 billion set aside by the DA for qualified farmers in the county. "This is a one-time subsidy to allay the possible adverse effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis among the small rice farmers," he said. Qualified to receive the financial assistance are those with farm areas of one hectare and below. The DA will identify the recipients from the list of 55,635 rice farmers in Negros Occidental. "We are now in the process of finalizing the list which will be submitted to the DA Central Office on April 20," Barrogo said. He added that Agriculture Secretary William Dar has scheduled the start of the distribution in the last week of April. "If ever there will be more than the target 20,488 recipients, we will submit a query to the Central Office about the farmers not covered by the fund," Barrogo said. He added the DA is discussing with the Department of Social Welfare and Development on how to address concerns like the possible duplication of recipients. The DSWD has been tasked to implement the Emergency Subsidy Program for low-income households to receive PHP5,000 to PHP8,000 in April and in May. Barrogo said there is no instruction to exclude from the list of potential beneficiaries small rice farmers, who are also beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps. (PNA)