Pres’l cash aid brings relief to Lantapan town corn, rice farmers

LANTAPAN, BUKIDNON – Farmers in this municipality received financial assistance through the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk Program (PAFFP), with Lantapan town serving as the second payout site in Bukidnon province.

The distribution was facilitated by the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10) in partnership with the local government of Lantapan through its Municipal Agriculture’s Office (MAO) and the Office of Congressman Jonathan Keith T. Flores, as part of the national government’s broader efforts to ensure food security and sustain agricultural production.

PAFFP provides direct cash aid to farmers and fisherfolk affected by economic and market disruptions, including higher fuel and other production-related costs triggered by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have been besetting the agriculture sector.

Each qualified beneficiary received PhP2,325.00 in cash assistance.

Recipients are active farmers duly registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) who were engaged in farming and fishing during the recent global crisis.

Of the total 2,025 beneficiaries, 2,000 are predominantly corn farmers, while the remaining 25 are rice farmers cultivating not more than two hectares of land.

Aside from being recognized as a vegetable basket, Lantapan has more than 3,000 hectares devoted to corn production, based on municipal agriculture data.

In his message, DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan emphasized the importance of continued support for food production and the importance of the RSBSA in the availment of agricultural-related assistance.

“Basin [adunay] silingan nato nga wala pa na rehistro, idangop ka na didto [sa MAO Lantapan], iparehistro sa RSBSA. Kinahanglan lang makigsayod sa inyong MAO kay sigurado ko nga andam kanunay ang MAO sa pagdawat sa bag-o na mga registration, [wala] man gani maapas karon, basin sa sunod nga [adunay panghatag nga] biofertilizers ug fuel assistance,” he said.

(If you have neighbors who are not yet registered, refer them to MAO Lantapan so they can be enrolled in the RSBSA. They only need to coordinate with the MAO, as I am confident that the office is always ready to accommodate new registrations. If they are not able to make it this time [payout], they may still be included in the next distribution of assistance such as biofertilizers and fuel assistance.)

The agri chief exec added: “Kana na rekisito na atong gigunitan karon, mao gihapon na kana atong pangitaon sa sunod na release [of government interventions]. Tiguma ug tipiga kana aron dili na lisud pangitaon para sa panginahanglanon.”

(The same requirement we are holding now will still be what we will look for in the next release of government interventions. Keep it safe and secure so it will no longer be difficult to present when needed.)

Lantapan Municipal Agriculturist Neptali C. Ambos echoed the agri chief exec’s statement, saying that RSBSA registration is a national mandate.

“Wala gyud mi nihunong sa pag invite sa atong mga mag-uuma na ma-enlist sa RSBSA considering this is a national mandate nga dapat tanan lehitimo na mga mag-uuma narehistro sa RSBSA.”

For some farmers, the assistance provided relief amid rising farm inputs costs and increasing prices of basic commodities.

“Pasalamat ko nga nakadawat mi og cash assistance, maayo na lang pod makabawas-bawas sa among mga expenses kay mahal kaayo ang abono ‘ron,” shared Adelfa F. Palmes, a rice farmer from Purok 6, Brgy. Kulasihan.

Meanwhile, a farmer-beneficiary, who is also a barangay worker, pinned her hope that government support will truly make an impact to the intended stakeholders.

“Kung nay assistance [nga madawat], gamiton gyud [kini] sa unsay purpose. Maong gitagaan ta og assistance sa gobyerno [aron makatabang sa gasto] sa pagpadaro, [pagpalit] og fertilizer og [pagpalit] sa pang-ispray sa mga sagbot, o [pagbayad] sa labor, sa atong mamasukay,” Merilyn Z. Bestudio , a corn farmer from Brgy. Baclayon remarked.

(If there is assistance, it should be used for its intended purpose, as the government provides aid to help cover our expenses for land preparation, fertilizer purchase, weed spraying, and labor costs.)

Said undertaking will continue throughout the month as the government aims to extend more help to farmers and fisherfolk across Bukidnon.# (JLO)