In response to the continuous increase in oil prices, the Department of Agriculture on Tuesday, led the distribution of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmer Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA 2) to more than 8,000 farmers and fishermen in the Province of Bataan.
DA Sec. William Dar led the distribution of five thousand pesos each to 6,732 rice farmers while 99 corn farmers and 1,200 fishermen received three thousand pesos (P 3,000) each under the Fuel Discount Program.
Bataan Governor Abet Garcia and Dinalupihan Mayor Gila Garcia also joined Sec. Dar and other key officials of DA in the distribution of the said financial assistance held at the Dinalupihan Civic Center.
Governor Garcia said the Provincial Government is very grateful to Senator Cynthia Villar and DA Secretary Dar as well as to the guests namely the Development Bank of the Philippines President & CEO Mr. Emmanuel Herbosa, Undersecretary for Operations Engr. Ariel Cayanan, Assistant Secretary for Operations Engr. Arnel De Mesa, DA RFO III Regional Executive Director Crispulo Bautista, Jr., BFAR Regional Director Wilfredo Cruz, PhilMech Director Dionisio Alvindia and Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Noel Reyes.
“Now that Dinalupihan Mayor Gila Garcia, who started the 1Bataan Agriculture Innovation and Technology Center in his town, will serve in the congress, I believe that more attention will be given to the needs of farmers in our Province,” Gov. Garcia said.hey
Garcia added that despite the ongoing crisis, they will continue to support and strive to achieve Bataan farmers’ goal of having a bountiful harvest, high income, and a better life for those in the agricultural sector.