Farmers to receive P5K, fishers P3K in fuel subsidies amid Middle East conflict

Farmers and fisherfolk will receive cash assistance in April amid the massive fuel price hikes triggered by the Middle East conflict, an official of the Department of Agriculture told a Senate committee on Tuesday.

At the hearing of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare, and Rural Development, Director Lorna Belinda Calda of the DA’s field operations service, farmers who have machinery like a tractor will receive P5,000. Fishers who have motorized fishing bancas are entitled to P3,000.

The committee held hearings on the proposed amendments to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Act and the proposed law on the Sustainable Livelihood Program.

“(There is) P100 million, which will benefit 14,400 farmers and 15,669 fisherfolk. Then the amount for the farmers is P5,000 per farmer and for fisherfolk is P3,000,” Calda said.

Asked by Sen. Erwin Tulfo if there will be other forms of aid for farmers and fishers if the crisis drags on, the DA said there is P10 billion for 4.217 million beneficiaries from the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk. This will also be released this April.

Agriculture Secretary Francis Tiu Laurel has ordered the release of Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Funds worth P7 billion from the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA), which would mean P3,200 for each farmer-beneficiary when released.

An official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development said there is still no discussion on which sector may benefit from government assistance, but added that funds remain available.

Tulfo asked the DSWD officials about their plans to aid minimum wage earners and the middle class if the crisis drags on until June or July.

“Sa ngayon wala pa pong pinag-uusapan ano yung next sector but in terms of funding meron po. Pag-uusapan pa lang po Mr, Chairman, you will be the first to get the list of sectors that we will help,“ DSWD Usec. Aliah Dimaporo said.

(Right now, there is no discussion about which sector will be next, but in terms of funding, it is available. We are just discussing it, Mr. Chairman. You will be the first to get the list of sectors that we will help.)

The Department of Budget and Management assured the committee that there are enough funds for the government to respond to the effects of the Middle East crisis and natural calamities, especially when the wet season starts in June.

“The economic managers are well aware of the crisis po ngayon, but we are closely coordinating po to ensure that there will be funds available for programs and projects that will be needed for the purpose po,” said Atty Trisha Baraan of the DBM.  –NB, GMA News