DA eyes tapping Marcos’ P10B PAFF to boost fuel subsidy for farmers, fishers

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is looking into tapping the Office of the President’s P10-billion fund for the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF) Program to expand and extend the fuel subsidy assistance for farmers and fishermen if the impact of the Middle East conflict is prolonged.

“We are inquiring about the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fishers… That’s about P10 billion for calamity purposes scheduled for release in second or third quarter of this year but since this can be considered as [a calamity]. We are already coordinating with the operations group on how this can be tapped if the problem in the Middle East would be prolonged,” DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said.

The PAFF Program provides direct cash aid of about P10,000 to agricultural workers to help them recover from calamities such as typhoons and El Niño. Lawmakers earlier flagged the program over alleged “soft pork” provisions. 

In a press briefing in Quezon City on Wednesday, De Mesa said the DA is still determining how much of the P10 billion PAFF budget would be tapped to augment the fuel subsidy program.

The DA has P100 million ready to be mobilized “within this month,” which is part of the P150 million unused fuel subsidy funds allocated under the DA’s 2025 budget.

Broken down, P50 million is allocated for 9,700 farmers and another P50 million for around 15,000 fisherfolk registered under the DA’s Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBA).

The fuel subsidy program is meant to cushion farmers and fisherfolk from “oil shock” or increase in production costs that affects their use of farm machinery and fishing boats.

Eligible farmers are entitled to get P5,000 each while each fisherfolk should get P3,000.

De Mesa said the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (BAFE) are fast-tracking the distribution of the initial P100 million fuel subsidy fund.

He said the DA is already requesting the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release the remaining P50 million of its fuel subsidy budget to the agency.

The DA official said the DA has already observed price increases in some agricultural commodities such as galunggong and pork belly of about 10%.

“But for most of the commodities, there are still no movements yet,” de Mesa.

Nonetheless, he said the fuel subsidy program for farmers and fisherfolk is temporary relief meant to arrest inflationary pressures resulting from rising fuel prices.

Apart from fuel subsidies, the DA is also exploring how it can negotiate toll discounts for agricultural commodities truckers with expressways operators. — JMA, GMA Integrated News