Around P12.8 million in financial assistance was distributed to 2,562 Sipalaynon farmers, with two hectares of land and below, who are registered under the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBA) of the Department of Agriculture.
The aid came from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) of the DA, with each farmer beneficiary getting P5,000, the city said.
The cash assistance aimed to offset the income loss of farmers due to the implementation of tariffication, and the removal of quantitative import restrictions on rice, under the Rice Tariffication Law, or Republic Act 11203.
The fund was downloaded via the Development Bank of the Philippines, and the distribution was facilitated by the local government unit of Sipalay, through its City Agriculture Office (CAO).
In Kabankalan, the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation recently distributed P1,193,476 to 194 farmer-beneficiaries.
Each farmer received an indemnity check of P6,152 during the payout, facilitated by the CAO, led by Ricky Muscosa, with Mayor Benjie Miranda, Vice Mayor Miguel Zayco, 6th District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez, Board Members Jeffrey Tubola and Valentino Miguel Alonzo, and Councilor Adolfo Mangao Jr., among others, in attendance.
These farmer-beneficiaries suffered losses from natural disasters, plant diseases, and pest outbreaks, the city said. ||
