Following the Commission on Election’s issuance of clearance from the election spending ban to the Department of Agriculture, the DA in Ilocos Region started to distribute the fuel subsidy discount cards for the fisherolfks in the province of Pangasinan today at the Narciso Ramos Gymnasium in Lingayen, Pangasinan.
With Php3,000 pesos worth of fuel discount cards, the DA through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has initially released a total of P66,000 worth of fuel subsidy to 22 fisherfolks from Lingayen and Sual, Pangasinan. The province of La Union has also started its distribution of the fuel subsidy to fisherfolk at the Sevilla Covered court, San Fernando City, La Union at 1:00 PM onwards.
Benefitting fisherfolk who are registered under FishR and those who are using motorized bancas 3 gross tons or below and registered under BoatR and are using legal fishing gears, the fuel subsidy is likewise intended for corn farmers who are registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture or RSBSA.
In Ilocos Region, total allocation for the corn farmers is Php36,882,000 that will benefit a total of 12,244 corn farmers.
The province of Pangasinan has been allocated with Php17,151,000 to benefit a total of 5,717 corn farmers while the province of La Union has been allocated a total of Php4,566,000 to benefit 1,522 corn farmers. Corn farmers from Pangasinan and La Union are to receive their fuel subsidy on separate schedule while awaiting for the submission of complete masterlist of beneficiaries from the LGUs.
In Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, the distribution activity is scheduled on May 6 with Php6,492,000 and Php8,523,000 worth of fuel subsidy to benefit 2,164 farmers from Ilocos Norte and 2,841 farmers from Ilocos Sur, respectively.
To avail of the project, corn farmers must be registered at the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture or RSBSA and encoded in the Farmers and Fisherfolk Registry System (FFRS). In getting the discount voucher, they shall show a proof of ownership of a functional machinery such as a certificate of Agricultural and Fishery Machinery and Equipment Registration from the City or Municipal LGUs, certification from the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) that he/she is the owner of the functional machine; sales/cash invoice/delivery receipt/official receipts; deed of donation/sale or memorandum of agreement with transfer of property receipt/invoice receipt.
A program aimed at providing fuel discount to corn farmers and fisherfolk to enhance resiliency and cushioning the impact from the surge of oil price hike while maximizing the utilization of farm machineries and equipment in their farming and fishing operations, the fuel discount program has a total budget of P500 million nationwide.
Along with the distribution of fuel subsidy, the DA-RFO I has likewise distributed the P5,000 worth of vouchers for the 50 beneficiaries of the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Program for CY 2021 in the amount of P250,000.
