Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Tuesday that it will release PHP10 billion in financial aid to farmers and fishers on April 15. This initiative is part of the Marcos administration's strategy to mitigate the impact of rising fuel costs on the agriculture sector.

According to Philippines News Agency, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel revealed that the financial assistance would be distributed simultaneously across the nation. Laurel stated, "Tomorrow, we will release the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF), that's PHP10 billion for 4.175 million farmers and fisherfolk."

The DA has previously indicated that each eligible beneficiary will receive cash assistance amounting to PHP2,325. The majority of the beneficiaries, over four million, are from the rice sector, totaling 2.197 million. This is followed by 1.475 million corn producers, more than 102,000 sugar farmers, and approximately 399,000 fishers nationwide.

The PAFF is an additional financial aid on top of the fuel subsidies that have already been distributed to registered farmers and fishers. The department is also considering utilizing other funds, such as the PHP1 billion quick response fund (QRF) and unused fuel subsidy budgets from previous years, to further alleviate the impact of rising oil prices on local food producers.

In a related development, Tiu Laurel announced that toll operators have agreed to waive fees for agricultural commodities. He stated that operators of major expressways, including the South Luzon Expressways, Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, and Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressways, have committed to this initiative.

The DA has also pledged logistics support through the deployment of food trucks to ensure the efficient delivery of agricultural commodities from farms to trading posts or local markets.