The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10), concluded its Php5,000 cash assistance to rice farmers, in the province of Bukidnon, who were affected by the low buying price of palay due to the Rice Tariffication Law.

DA-10 executive Carlene C. Collado explained that the cash assistance was accorded to qualified rice farmers, tilling an area ranging from 0.5 to 2 hectares and are duly registered under the updated Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).

Said financial aid is under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA), sourced out from the tariff collections of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

Collado further expressed his gratitude to the provincial government thru Governor Jose Ma. Zubiri, Jr. and its municipal mayors for the support extended to the agriculture sector.

A total of 6,594 rice farmer-recipients received the Php5,000 financial aid from the 19 municipalities and cities of said province from April 20-24.

The towns and cities include Baungon, Talakag, Sumilao, Manolo Fortich, Impasug-ong, Lantapan, Cabanglasan, San Fernando, Malaybalay City, Damulog, Kibawe, Dangcagan, Don Carlos, Kadingilan, Maramag, Quezon, Kalilangan, Pangantucan and Valencia City.

Nova H. Omonlay, a 62-year old rice farmer from barangay Kisolon, Sumilao, Bukidnon, who has been cultivating her rice fields for more than 20 years, said,  “Dako na kaayo ni nga tabang alang sa pagkaon sa akong pamilya, labi na niining panahon sa krisis. Ang pagtanom sa humay ug ang kita niini maoy gisaligan namo alang sa among pagkaon sa tibuok tuig.”

[This is big enough to buy food for my family, especially this time of crisis. Rice farming is also the source of our income and this is where we also get money for our food for the whole year.”]

Aside from Bukidnon, simultaneous distribution of RFFA assistance was also conducted in the province of Lanao del Norte with 6,442 beneficiaries.# (MGBS)