More than 4.1 million farmers and fisherfolk across the Philippines are set to receive cash assistance after Holy Week, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
The financial aid aims to cushion the impact of rising petroleum prices and increasing production costs affecting the agriculture sector.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced that the distribution will be carried out under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk program. The rollout is scheduled to begin after the observance of Holy Week.
Each beneficiary is expected to receive around P2,350, sourced from the government’s P10-billion allocation for agricultural support.
In addition to the cash assistance, the DA is also preparing to release a separate fuel subsidy before the end of March. This will benefit farmers and fisherfolk who use registered motorized equipment in their operations.
Laurel said the agency is ready to allocate an additional P1 billion from its quick response funds if the country is placed under a State of Emergency due to continued increases in oil prices.
The assistance is part of the government’s efforts to support food producers facing higher operational expenses linked to global fuel price movements.
