The Department of Agriculture (DA) will begin distributing fuel subsidies to thousands of farmers and fisherfolk this month as the government releases an initial P100 million to help ease the impact of rising fuel costs.
DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (BAFE) will start the distribution in the coming days.
Under the program, the government will give P5,000 to qualified farmers and P3,000 to fisherfolk to help offset fuel expenses for farming and fishing operations.
De Mesa said BFAR will start releasing fuel vouchers next week, while the agency will distribute the remaining 95 percent of the assistance through fuel cards within two weeks.
BAFE will also begin releasing P5,000 fuel subsidies to farmers listed in the government’s Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture, particularly those who own or rent farm machinery.
The DA has requested the immediate release of an additional P50 million from the Department of Budget and Management to expand the program instead of waiting for the current allocation to be fully used.
Once the DBM releases the additional funds, the program will cover nearly 15,000 farmers and about 23,800 fisherfolk nationwide, De Mesa said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will start distributing P5,000 cash aid to tricycle drivers on Tuesday, March 17, through 39 designated payout centers.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the agency prioritized tricycle drivers in the initial rollout because local government units have already validated their beneficiary lists.
The agency will later extend the assistance to other public utility vehicle drivers, including those operating jeepneys, buses, and transport network vehicle service (TNVS) units.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board is currently finalizing the master list to ensure that authorities include all legitimate drivers in the subsidy program.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has directed police commanders to coordinate with government agencies and secure distribution sites during the subsidy rollout.
“The presence of policemen is important in this kind of activity. Our goal has always been the protection and welfare of everybody,” Nartatez said.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.