Canlaon city: The Department of Agriculture-Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) has rolled out the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk Program (PAFFP) in Canlaon City, benefiting 2,982 agricultural workers over the weekend.
According to Philippines News Agency, Dana Sampilo, DA-NIR Alternate Rice Program focal person, announced that Canlaon is the first local government unit (LGU) in Negros Oriental to receive this aid. The beneficiaries, consisting of rice and corn farmers as well as sugarcane workers, each received PHP2,325.
Sampilo explained that the grant aims to mitigate the impacts of rising fuel prices and the Middle East conflict. The LGU validated the list of rice and corn farmers through the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), which is mandatory for identifying beneficiaries for government interventions.
For the sugarcane sector, the Sugar Regulatory Association (SRA) coordinated with the LGU to identify eligible workers. The distribution took place last Saturday at the Panubigan Covered Court. Sampilo mentioned that similar distributions are scheduled for other towns and cities across the province.
The next cash distribution is planned for this week in Jimalalud, San Jose, and other municipalities. In Siquijor province, also part of the NIR, the PAFFP distribution is scheduled for April 29 and 30. Negros Occidental began its rollout last week in at least three LGUs.
The PAFFP is a PHP10-billion initiative providing unconditional cash assistance to combat rising production costs. The program, implemented by the DA, supports over 4 million vulnerable agricultural workers registered under the RSBSA.
