The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) ramped up its support for Misamis Occidental farmers on November 29 by rolling out significant financial aid under the Rice Farmers’ Financial Assistance (RFFA) program and fuel assistance for mechanized farming.
A total of 694 rice farmers from the province received cash grants amounting to around PhP3.47 million through the RFFA program. This marks the fourth cycle of the initiative since the Rice Tariffication Law established the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) in 2019 to support smallholder farmers affected by declining palay prices. Beneficiaries, including farmers with two hectares or less of rice farmland registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), each received PhP5,000.
Call for Strategic Spending and NFA Support
Carlota S. Madriaga, DA-10’s Regional Technical Director for Operations, urged farmers to use the assistance to enhance farm productivity and profitability. “Spend the amount for productivity and profitability with more resources to improve your farm operations,” she said, encouraging them to reinvest in their farms.
She also emphasized the importance of selling their produce to the National Food Authority (NFA), which has set palay buying prices between PhP23 and PhP25 per kilo since October, significantly higher than last year’s range of PhP16 to PhP23. “We encourage you to sell your produce to the NFA to achieve food security during calamities and help our economy thrive,” Madriaga added.
One beneficiary, Elmer D. Mintalar from Molicay, Ozamiz City, expressed his gratitude for the RFFA aid. “The funds I received will go a long way in helping me buy farm equipment, fertilizers, and pesticides. I just hope this program keeps helping farmers,” he said.
Fuel Assistance for Mechanized Farming
In Oroquieta City, DA-10 also distributed fuel assistance cards to 2,050 farmers to help offset rising fuel costs in mechanized farming operations. Each recipient received PhP3,000 worth of fuel assistance through a DA Intervention Monitoring Card, which is valid at Department of Energy (DOE)-accredited gasoline stations equipped with Point of Sale (POS) terminals.
Of the beneficiaries, 1,299 farmers hailed from Oroquieta City, while others came from nearby municipalities, including Sinacaban (372), Sapang Dalaga (125), Tudela (115), Aloran (83), Lopez Jaena (27), Calamba (22), and Panaon (7).
Madriaga clarified that the cards would be activated within 24 hours of issuance, ensuring immediate access to fuel assistance.
Sustained Government Support
Both the RFFA and fuel assistance programs are spearheaded by DA-10’s Rice Program under the Field Operations Division (FOD) and Regional Agricultural Engineering Division (RAED), respectively. The initiatives align with the government’s commitment to safeguarding food security and alleviating the financial burdens of the country’s smallholder farmers.
Through sustained support measures like these, DA-10 aims to empower local farmers to overcome economic challenges, invest in their operations, and contribute to the nation’s agricultural productivity.