Agriculture Department Releases ₱12 Million for Fuel Subsidy Program

On Sunday, the Department of Agriculture confirmed that it has disbursed ₱12 million of the ₱1.1-billion fuel subsidy in an effort to mitigate the impact of the continued hike in fuel prices for corn farmers and fisherfolk nationwide. Farmers who are registered under the Registry System for the Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and fishermen under the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) are expected to receive ₱3,000 each under the program, according to Agriculture Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes.

“Ang priority muna ‘yung mga nakalista na. So, we’re still encouraging others to have their names registered sa RSBSA. Patuloy naman po ‘yung registration dahil nakaka P12 million pa lang kami buong bansa,” explained Reyes. (“Our priority are those who were already registered. We’re still encouraging others to have their names registered in the RSBSA. The registration is ongoing because we have only distributed P12 million nationwide, so far.”)

Funds for the ₱1.1-billion program come from the ₱500 million from the 2022 budget along with the ₱600 million from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Beneficiaries of the fuel subsidy program are projected to reach around 300,000 corn farmers and fisherfolk.

Poll Commissioner George Garcia also elaborated that the DA’s fuel subsidy program was recently exempted by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) from the election spending ban. Reyes furthered that the program will resume within the month. “Oo, itong katapusan. Itong remaining days and towards the elections. Hanggang matapos, basically. Hanggang maibigay lahat,” said the DA official. (“Yes, the distribution will resume by the end of the month until we have distributed all the money.”)

The DA, likewise, provides rice farmers with ₱5,000 in financial assistance as part of its Rice Farmers Financial Assistance program, which has also been exempted by COMELEC from the election spending ban.

Source: GMA News