MisOcc rice farmers receive financial aid at P5K each thru DA-10’s RFFA program.

 

MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) helmed by OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, launched the third distribution of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Rice Farmers’ Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) Program for CY 2022, in the province of Misamis Occidental from January 18-20, 2023.

Under the RFFA program, P5,000.00 cash assistance is allotted to each rice farmer, with one qualifying for being enrolled in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and tilling or owning a cumulative rice area not exceeding two hectares.

According to Dir. Collado, the RFFA continues to be among the priority interventions of DA with P45 million budget for Misamis Occidental’s 9,070 eligible rice farmers alone.

The director added that the RFFA aims to cushion the impact of the Rice Tarrification Law among rice farmers through financial aid, with the vision of increased quality and productivity for farmers, and affordable rice for consumers.

During the outset of the RFFA program III on January 18 at Bay Araneta, Oroquieta City, MisOcc Governor Henry S. Oaminal, together with other local officials and its Provincial Agriculture Office, municipal agriculture offices of benefitting city and towns, and DA-10’s Rice Program led by its Supervising Agriculturist and Focal Person Chona H. Nacalaban, spearheaded the distribution.

On the first day of the distribution, 3,007 qualified recipients from Oroquieta City, Lopez Jaena, Panaon, Aloran, and Jimenez received cash assistance.

Subsequently, 2,874 eligible farmers from Plaridel, Calamba, Baliangao, Sapang Dalaga, and Concepcion were catered at the Calamba Multi-Purpose Building on January 19.

Furthermore, 3,189 qualified farmers from Sinacaban, Tudela, Clarin, Bonifacio, Tangub and Ozamiz cities also received financial aid at the Tudela Municipal Civic Gymnasium on January 20, 2023.

The third rollout of the RFFA in MisOcc was realized In partnership with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the Universal Storefront Services, Corp. (USSC).# (RLTolentino)