IBA, Zambales — A total of 1,279 farmers in San Marcelino, Zambales received financial assistance from the national government, providing much-needed support to help them cope with rising production costs and sustain their agricultural livelihoods.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) Central Luzon distributed unconditional cash assistance amounting to P2,325 each to qualified beneficiaries under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk Program (PAFFP) on June 9 at the San Marcelino Evacuation Center in Barangay Laoag.
The assistance forms part of the national government’s continuing efforts under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen the resilience of farmers and fisherfolk, ensure food security, and sustain agricultural productivity amid economic challenges affecting the sector.
PAFFP is a government intervention program backed by a P10-billion fund that provides direct financial assistance to qualified farmers and fisherfolk affected by increasing production expenses and other challenges in agriculture and fisheries.
Through the program, the government aims to ease the financial burden on beneficiaries, help maintain their livelihood activities, and support continuous food production in local communities.
According to the DA, qualified beneficiaries include farmers and fisherfolk registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).
Rice farmers must be cultivating not more than two hectares of farmland to qualify for the assistance.
Corn and sugarcane farmers registered in the RSBSA, as well as fisherfolk registered under the RSBSA-BoatR, are also eligible for the program.
DA Central Luzon, in partnership with the local government of San Marcelino, ensured the orderly and efficient distribution of assistance to qualified beneficiaries.
The initiative highlights the government’s commitment to delivering timely support to agricultural communities and helping farmers remain productive contributors to the country’s food supply chain despite rising costs and sectoral challenges. (CLJD/RPQ, PIA Region 3-Zambales)