Baguio city: The Department of Agriculture-Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) is set to complete the distribution of cash assistance to 58,953 farmer-beneficiaries in the provinces of Abra and Ifugao. These are the final provinces in the region to receive support under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF) initiative.

According to Philippines News Agency, Dr. Leisley Deligen, officer-in-charge of the DA-CAR Field Operations Division, highlighted that the beneficiary list includes 23,841 farmers from Abra, with the remainder from Ifugao. The names were sourced from the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA). The aim is to finish the distribution within the month to enable timely reporting and transition to aiding high-value crop farmers, primarily in Benguet, Mountain Province, and Ifugao.

Each eligible farmer will receive PHP2,325 in assistance. Deligen noted that distribution schedules were organized by clusters of municipalities, accommodating the remote locations of some areas from provincial capitals. Previous distributions in Benguet, Mountain Province, Kalinga, and Apayao concluded in June, benefiting a total of 96,080 farmers across the region.

The PAFF fund, amounting to PHP10 billion nationwide, was established to provide financial relief to farmers and fisherfolk facing elevated production costs, notably due to increased farm input prices amid the fuel crisis. However, during distribution activities, some farmers expressed concerns about being omitted from the beneficiary list. Deligen clarified that only those registered with the RSBSA are eligible for assistance and encouraged all farmers and fisherfolk to register, regardless of the scale of their operations, to ensure inclusion in future government programs.