• THERESA MAE DULMAN
A total of 613 farmers in Bacolod City received financial assistance under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk Program (PAFFP) during a payout held at the Bacolod City Government Center lobby yesterday.
Department of Agriculture (DA) – Negros Island Region Executive Director Engr. Jose Albert Barrogo said the beneficiaries include small-scale farmers of rice, corn, and sugarcane, who each received P2,325.
He said that to qualify for the aid, applicants must be registered members of the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).
Barrogo added that eligibility is limited to rice farmers with landholdings of two hectares or less, while no size restrictions apply to corn and sugarcane growers, as per the guidelines.
Farmers who passed away between April and the present remain qualified for aid, provided their next of kin is also RSBSA registered to claim the benefits.
The assistance will be delivered directly to bedridden recipients, with releases scheduled simultaneously for Bacolod, La Castellana, and Moises Padilla.
Barrogo noted that the PAFFP has a total national fund of P10 billion.
While previous programs focused solely on rice farmers with grants of P10,000, the current initiative was expanded to include corn and sugarcane farmers, resulting in the adjusted distribution of funds nationwide.
Barrogo stated that fisherfolk payouts are pending as the official list is currently being held at Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region VI office, who is currently prioritizing the distribution of aid to farmers.*
