THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said farmers and fisherfolk are qualified to receive social amelioration program (SAP) from the government during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Those who benefitted under the DA’s the Financial Subsidy for Rice Farmers (FSRF) are still qualified to avail of the SAP of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), according to DA Secretary William Dar.
FSRF grants P5,000 each to rice farmers who till one hectare and below and who are listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture or RSBSA.
“This is a one-time payment, hence the recipients of FSRF can still receive cash assistance from the DSWD during its second tranche of distribution,” said Dar at a virtual press conference yesterday.
“We do not want to discriminate other farmers and also fishers, from the financial assistance being given by the government to the marginalized sector of our society. It just so happened that the fund and implementing guidelines of the FSRF has been finalized and approved early this year, before the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dar said.
FSRF is an existing social amelioration program of the DA funded under the General Appropriations Act of 2020 to help rice farmers mostly affected by the sudden drop of palay price in 34 rice-producing provinces.
Since the rollout of the FSRF early April, the DA has confirmed 234,586 beneficiaries for payout and expects to cater to more than 591,000 beneficiaries after completion.
The agency said qualified farmers may coordinate with their municipal or city agriculture office to know the schedule and mechanics of distribution in their locality.
DA’s partner financial institution, the Land Bank of the Philippines, will send out messages or announcements on how to claim cash cards loaded with the P5,000 cash assistance.
