LEGAZPI CITY – Farmers of Camalig town in Albay received P5,000 cash each from the Department of Agriculture (DA) in two separate payouts. The cash assistance comes under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) program.
Municipal agriculturist Dante Alejandro said the recipients were 1,631 farmers, divided into two batches Monday and Tuesday. “Farmers who have submitted the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture or RSBSA, which also serves as proof that they own a rice [field] area, are the ones who are qualified to receive the cash assistance,” he said.
Virginia Manreal, 65, of Barangay Del Rosario said she would use the cash assistance to buy pesticides and fertilizers for their crop. Neriza Mandela, 36, from Barangay Comun said she can now buy rice, vitamins for her children, and fertilizers for their rice farm. They both thanked the DA.
The distribution of the cash assistance began in Tabaco City on January 24 and is expected to be completed within this month. (PNA)