The Cash and Food Subsidy for Marginalized Farmers and Fisherfolks was established to help the farmers to recover from the damage and other impacts of the COVID19. It aims to provide food and financial programs to the eligible smallholder farmers and fisherfolk that were affected by the surge of the pandemic.
On April 20, a distribution was spearheaded by Division Chief of the PCA Raul Aguilar, PCA Acting Senior Agriculturist Arlo G. Solano, Assigned PCA Agriculturist, as well as the Municipal LGU's in every Municipality. . The QR Code has a total worth of P2,865,000.00 and has been distributed to the 573 farmers and fisherfolks from the Municipality of Sofronio Española (44), Narra (220) and Bataraza (309). Each farmer has been given a QR Code that they will bring to Mlhuiller to be scanned and exchanged for the money. They have received a P5,000 cash subsidy each. It is a part of the 2nd and 3rd trance distribution. There has also been registered in the NCFRCS and updating of registrants was conducted during the distribution.
Meanwhile, on April 24, another distribution was held in the MUnicipality of Balabac. There were 151 coconut farmers that had received assistance from the Department of Agriculture. It has been attended by the PCA Agriculturist Gerald N. Belmonte and the Local Government Unit (LGU). They will continue to give the second tranche to the Municipality of Balabac. The Coconut farmers and fisherfolks were thankful for the cash that they have received from the Department of Agriculture through this program.
On November 9, 2021, Agriculture Secretary William Dar and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) President Emmanuel Herbosa signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and implemented guidelines for the program.
“We felt it was an obligation for the DA family to line up some social amelioration assistance to cover indigenous people farmers, farmers of corn, coconut, and sugarcane, and the fisherfolk, who were not included in previous amelioration programs that catered to rice farmers,” Dar said.
According to the Department of Agriculture, the new cash and food assistance program aims to aid marginalized farmers and fisherfolk who were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, provide market support to the local rice and poultry industries, and support micro, small, and medium enterprises.
One of the beneficiaries, Ruston Noe said that “In behalf of Balabac Small Coconut Growers Association kami po ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa ayudang natanggap Ng mga maliliit na Magniniyog sa aming Bayan. God bless PCA Palawan”.
Palawan Coconut Authority
