23,000 Negrense farmers to get P5K subsidy from DA

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, May 3(PIA6) — Some 23, 900 farmers in Negros Occidental will receive P5,000 each under the Financial Subsidy to Rice Farmers (FSRF) implemented by the Department of Agriculture to help small farmers amid the community quarantine due to the coronavirus 2019 health crisis.

DA Regional Field Office 6 Agriculture Engineering Division Chief Engr. Jose Albert Barrogo said the program is only for farmers tilling one hectare and below and are registered with the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBSA).

Initially, only 20, 488 farmers in the province were identified to take part in the program with a budget of more than P102 million.

However, the DA increased the number of beneficiaries as other provinces in Western Visayas did not reach their target number of farmer beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, the first release for the first batch of farmers in the province is expected during the first week of May.

About 4,733 famers will receive P5,000 or equivalent to more than P P23.655 million.

Barrogo said he is currently in contact with the the officials of Land Bank of the Philippines regarding the protocols to be observed in the relase of money without violating General or Enhanced Community Quarantine rules.

The budget for FSRF comes from the rice tariffication law wherein the government allocated P3 billion for the entire country. (JSC/Photo by DA 6/ Lljr-PIA6)

source https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1040737