Rice farmers from Malaybalay City and Lantapan, Bukidnon receive financial aid through DA’s RCEF-RFFA program.

 

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) officially launched the third rollout of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) program in Northern Mindanao, Thursday, December 1, in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

Through OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, DA-10 has allocated about P96.97 million for the RFFA rollout to 18,831 qualified rice farmers tilling 0.5 hectares but not exceeding two hectares in Bukidnon province, and are enrolled in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).

According to DA-10 Rice focal person Chona H. Nacalaban, RFFA is the government’s financial aid to rice farmers who are affected by the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law.

Meanwhile, Malaybalay City councilor Niko P. Aldeguer expressed his gratitude to DA-10 for the unending support to their farmer constituents.

“This financial assistance greatly helps our local farmers in their farming, and we, in the Local Government Unit, assure you to give our full support in addressing their agricultural needs,” he said.

On the other hand, Acting Bukidnon Provincial Agriculturist Jacqueline Julia A. Lagamon urged the recipients to invest the amount on farm inputs to boost their farm production, especially for this dry cropping season.

In partnership with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Universal Storefront Services, Corp. (USSC) around 1,761 smallholder rice farmers from Malaybalay City and Lantapan, Bukidnon received the cash subsidy at P5k each on the first-day of rollout.#(RDMElloren: Photos: ATTalib/GDAndres)