DA begins rollout of P10-B Presidential Assistance for Farmers, Fisherfolk

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday officially began the nationwide rollout of the P10-billion Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk Program (PAFFP) —a cash aid initiative aimed at providing a critical financial cushion for agricultural producers grappling with volatile fuel and production costs.

Funded under the 2026 General Appropriations Act or Republic Act No. 12314, the PAFFP was designed for the distribution of P2,325 cash assistance each to more than 4.17 million beneficiaries across the country.

In a news release, the DA is targeting small-scale producers who are most vulnerable to price shocks in the energy market. 

To qualify, beneficiaries must be registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and the National Program for Municipal Fishing Vessels and Gears Registration (BoatR) for municipal fishing. 

The target beneficiaries include:

• Rice farmers tilling two hectares or less
• Corn and sugarcane farmers
• Municipal fisherfolk relying on motorized boats.

The Agriculture Department said the financial assistance intervention comes at a critical time as rising petroleum prices have significantly increased the cost of operating irrigation pumps, farm machinery, and fishing vessels, thinning the profit margins of rural workers.

“This financial assistance, while admittedly small, provides a lifeline for over 4.1 million Filipino farmers and fisherfolk hit hard by soaring petroleum product prices,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. 

The DA said the first tranche of payouts is scheduled to begin this week in Regions I, II, III, VI, and IX, with tens of thousands of beneficiaries in these areas expected to receive their grants within the coming days.

The agency added it is currently refining master lists and distribution systems to avoid the bottlenecks and transparency issues that have hampered large-scale aid programs in previous years. —AOL, GMA News