Laoag city: Over 11,571 farmers and fisherfolk from four municipalities in the Ilocos Region are set to receive cash aid on April 15 as part of the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF) program. This initiative targets residents in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan; San Fernando City, La Union; Bantay, Ilocos Sur; and Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, as pilot areas for the program.

According to Philippines News Agency, Department of Agriculture Ilocos Region project evaluation officer Irene Tactac announced during a forum that the unconditional cash assistance program is designed to alleviate the financial burden caused by rising oil prices. The beneficiaries include registered individuals under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), encompassing rice, corn, sugarcane farmers, and fisherfolk.

Tactac explained that the national PAFF fund totals PHP10 billion, with the Ilocos Region receiving an allocation of PHP1.1 billion. This budget is intended for 480,080 individuals, providing each with PHP2,325. This financial aid is distinct from the fuel subsidy program, which offers PHP5,000 to beneficiaries who have received machinery and equipment, as these individuals will not qualify for PAFF assistance.

The distribution of the fuel subsidy is scheduled to commence in the third week of May, Tactac added.