By Nanette Guadalquiver

CASH AID. Some 861 rice farmers receive PHP5,000 each in cash assistance under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) of the Department of Agriculture during a distribution event held at the Barangay Sampinit covered court in Bago City, Negros Occidental on July 15, 2024. A total of 2,792 rice farmers in Negros Occidental and Guimaras provinces received a total of PHP13.96 million in cash assistance under RCEF-RFFA. (Photo courtesy of Bago City Agriculture Office)

BACOLOD CITY – A total of 2,792 rice farmers in Negros Occidental and Guimaras provinces received a total of PHP13.96 million in cash assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Western Visayas under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA).

In Bago City, the top-producing local government unit in Negros Occidental, a total of PHP4.305 million were distributed to 861 beneficiaries in Barangay Sampinit covered court on Monday, a report of the City Agriculture Office showed.

On Tuesday, 863 rice farmers received a total of PHP4.315 million at the Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum and Cultural Center.

Meanwhile, 1,068 rice farmers in four municipalities in Guimaras have already been identified to receive a total of PHP5.34 million in cash assistance, according to a report of DA-Western Visayas.

The distribution of the financial subsidy was started in San Lorenzo, Sibunag, Buenavista, and Nueva Valencia on Monday.

According to the DA, the RFFA is an unconditional financial assistance to farmers funded by excess tariff collection from rice importations.

Under the program, rice farmers tilling rice lands of two hectares and below who are listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) are qualified to receive PHP5,000 each.

This year’s RFFA beneficiaries include farmers that registered in the RSBSA as of June 30, 2023. (PNA)

Published Date: July 16, 2024